The Association of Registered Freight Forwarders Nigeria (AREFFN) has applauded the decision of the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to allow independent candidates to contest in the forthcoming coming Governing Council of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
Recall that the five freight forwarding associations accredited by the CRFFN have vehemently opposed the independent candidature in the coming election insisting that by the virtue of a provision the CRFFN establishment Act which provided for Freight Forwarders Consultative Council, it’s only the associations that were allowed to present a candidate.
However, in a meeting with all the contestants who purchased forms for the CRFFN Governing Council election a fortnight ago, the Minister, guided by the Act establishing the Council which allows for three categories of membership namely: corporate, individual and associations, approved the participation of the independent candidates in the election.
The Minister has directed the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani to conduct the election in line with the provisions of the Act setting up the Council warning that the Ministry could not afford to go contrary to the enabling Act or undermine the constitution of the country.
Reacting to the development, the National Secretary, AREFFN, Ichie Frank Obiekezie hailed the position of the Minister on the matter saying that it was AREFFN’s opposition to the sharing formula trumped up by the other four accredited associations that gave room for independent candidates to gain ground insisting that “if we had agreed with that formula, there wouldn’t have been room for the independent candidates to raise their voice.”
According to Obiekezie, “Before now, the issue of independent candidates was not a very serious issue. But now, that matter came up and they became very interested and some of them have grown in strength and we felt that for the industry to move forward, since the Act allows for these categories of membership, that they should be given the opportunity contest.”
On why they disagreed with the slot alloted to them by the four accredited associations according to the sharing formula leading to their resistance, he said, “the issue of slot was not actually the major issue but since that was the issue in contention on the floor of that meeting (called by the Permanent Secretary), that was why we took that position that even if we are to consider the sharing formula, that this is not equitable and that gave room for those that they call independent candidates now to come in because the truth is that if we had agreed with that formula, there wouldn’t have been room for the independent candidates to raise their voice.”
He observed that the disagreement among the freight forwarders on the mode of the election was good for the industry because “some of the individuals in the industry actually tested their strength because before now, somebody will sit somewhere and tell you that we have said this and we have said that and that is how it will be. It is no more like that.”
“What we are praying for is that at the end of the election, let there be peace, let the new Council be a Council that has the interest of the industry at heart. Let them churn out policies that will favour the industry and the operators. Once the Council is set up, it will be no more Council of AREFFN or ANLCA or NAGAFF, it will be Council of freight forwarders. That is the stand of AREFFN”, he added.
On claims by some of the accredited associations that they would sweep the poll, the National Secretary said, “That is what it was before the Eko Hotel meeting, I am not sure that if you go back to them today they will tell you that they are in a position to sweep the poll but if they are in a position to sweep the poll, as I said, the Council remains the Council for freight forwarders. Even if only NAGAFF members are in that Council, it will not be called NAGAFF Council, even only ANLCA members are in that Council, it will not be called ANLCA Council, it will be Council for freight forwarders.
“As members of AREFFN, we are not afraid of any person or association in this industry, we are doing our level best and by God’s grace, we shall be part of that Council. We cannot boast that we are going to sweep the entire poll, it is not even our intention even if we have the capacity but we want to be part of it, to contribute to the growth and wellbeing of members of the freight forwarding industry.”
Commenting on the move by some associations to cede part of the CRFFN to their secretariats where they register intending members and update the old members, he said, “Even before this election fever, it has always been part of the policy of AREFFN to encourage our members to register with CRFFN. If the CRFFN law allowed them to cede part of their staff to associations’ secretariats, they are operating within the law.
“But I can assure you that AREFFN is not idle regarding registration of members with the CRFFN. It has always been our policy, it’s a continuous thing in AREFFN to let our members register with CRFFN but anybody who is mobilizing members to register because of voting, do you think that the person has intention of doing a good work in that Council? What is the motive? Just to be there at all cost because if someone who is genuinely looking for service to render, such a person will not be going out to bring people because when you go out to bring people to register, you are spending money as well because it costs money and by the time he gets to that Council, what do you think will happen?
“So, naturally, we have been encouraging our members to register with CRFFN, we are not inducing anybody because of the forthcoming election. Moreover, we don’t even have the money to do that.”
Speaking on decentralization of the venue for the election, Obiekezie maintained that the Minister must have taken that decision in his wisdom noting that there were people advising the Minister.
“But to us here, this business we operate here, I have been in this business since 1987, I have been to the East to do this job either one or two times. So, I am in a better position to assess people here in Lagos interacting with me and when it comes to election, I will know that this man, if he goes there, this is what he can do.
“So, we are at home with the decision of the Minister because the people in the East, will know the people in the East and vice versa. So, the decision is okay by us.”
Photo: Ichie Frank Obiekezie, National Secretary, AREFFN.
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