Barely 24 hours after the leadership of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) openly confessed it tacit support to the collection of the Practitioners’ Operating Fee (POF) by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), the leadership of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has announced its support for the collection.
The National President of ANLCA, Chief Iju Tony Nwabunike, in a Memo to all members of the association on Tuesday in Lagos observed that the association being a body established to serve as an umbrella body for all customs brokers and freight forwarders in Nigeria, was in line with the principles and procedures of the CRFFN as provided for under the Act No.16 of 2007 and must live up to expectations.
Nwabunike noted that ANLCA must do well to encourage all her members in the Governing Council to move towards and focus on the actualization of their major aims for being in the CRFFN adding that that was the responsibility placed on them and the duty owed to the body as a whole.
As regards any matter concerning CRFFN and ANLCA, he pointed out that any statement resulting thereof must be treated as a policy statement which could and must only be issued by the President of the association or the National Secretary acting in their official capacity even as he quickly added that such policy must be conformed with by the members of the association as it is binding and that any other act to the contrary shall be null and void and should be seen and taken as trite bearing in mind the official powers inherent in those offices.
He added, “The CRFFN being a body established by the Act of the Federal Government is endowed will all the proper organ of government required to adequately and sufficiently operate under the law. Thus our members are advised and must in fact be properly guided on their utterances and actions to ensure that it does not repress the position of Mr. President or the entire NECOM. Any utterance or action carried out by a member who does not represent the position of Mr. President or the entire NECOM shall be treated as a breach and as such sanctions shall be appropriately issued out in line with the breach.
“We need not be reminded that taking brief journey back in history, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) is one of the pioneers of the first and second Council. ANLCA must thus not be seen as anything else other than father in the CRFFN. It would be ridicule for ANLCA to be seen as playing second fiddle. ANLCA must not at any time be found wanting.
“It is expected that the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) with proper and adequate support is to have a smooth and unhindered brief of professional operating fee soonest. ANLCA is fully in support of this directive as it will help enhance the education and enlightenment of its members and ensure that members are abreast of the dynamics of freight forwarding in the contemporary world and also improve the welfare of its members. This will undoubtedly and definitely in turn lead to a beneficial and robust training of members, all geared towards our communal growth as the profession is dynamic and evolves with time.
“Henceforth, as a sign of good faith and in the interest of our members, our members in the CRFFN are to table a comprehensive monthly update to or members on the significant matters, activities and events that occurs within and around CRFFN. This is a way of illuminating the activities of the CRFFN and keeping our members on the know.”
He however, reminded them that for the purpose of the growth of each and every member of the association, the representation of ANLCA in the CRFFN was a continuous exercise and must without hesitation be supported whole heartedly for the collective benefit of members saying “this must be seen and taken as essentially significant to our body and any form of unwarranted opposition will not be welcomed.”
He continued, “Without stressing any further on the need to comply with the directive of the federal government, be assured that this new professional development is for our communal good and for our collective growth as members of a single body. We all have our general interest at heart, so be rest assured that all we do is geared towards our progress.”
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