The peace seemingly enjoyed by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) was yesterday threatened as the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs agents (ANLCA) has directed its corporate members to disregard any payment and modalities for any payment on the Practitioners’ Operating Fees until further notice.
It will be recalled that CRFFN having giving a one week notice for the commencement of the collection of the said Practitioners’ Operating fee, actually commenced the collection of the fee on Monday, the 11th day of May 15, 2015.
The Notice read in part, “in exercise of the powers conferred on the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria under section 4 (d) and 6 (2) (C) of the CRFFN Act No 16 of 2007, notice is hereby brought to all registered freight forwarders; all seaport terminal operators; all airports cargo terminal handlers and the general public that the collection of practitioners fee by the council commence on Monday 11th May”.
Rising from its NEC meeting yesterday in Lagos, ANLCA further directed the National Executive Committee (NECOM) to suspend all existing on-going discussion with the CRFFN on the issue of the said fee and its legality.
The association however set up a committee to interface with the Management of CRFFN and come up with recommendation towards further engagements thereby empowering it to discuss, negotiate and take all appropriate steps towards the realization of ANLCA’s professional interest.
According to a communiqué issued and signed by the National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Dr. Kayode Farinto at the end of the meeting, the members of the committee are as follows; Chief (Sir) Ernest Elochukwu as Chairman, Chief Peter Obih, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, Chief (Dr.) Mayor Ikwecheghi and Hon. David Chuks Kanikwu.
Others are; Mr. Bayo Oyekanju, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar and Dr. Kayode Farinto who will serve as the Secretary to the committee.
However, the communiqué did not indicate whether or not the committee was any time frame within which to conclude its work.
