Exclusive: Okpara takes over as CRFFN Registrar as Jukwe proceeds on terminal leave

Mr. Basil Okpara has assumed as the acting Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) as the former Registrar, Sir Mike Jukwe has proceeded on terminal leave with effect from 14^th December, 2018, Primetime Reporters has learnt.

This medium gathered that Jukwe who was due for retirement in September this year actually sent in his letter reminding the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi that he was due for retirement on 2^nd September, 2018 but later on wrote again requesting the Minister to extend his appointment which he turned down.

Our source who spoke under the condition of anonymity recalled that the Minister had during the inauguration of the Governing Council of CRFFN in November this year had given Jukwe one month to clear his table even he stated that the Council chose to keep him till last week Wednesday so as to extract some vital information concerning the Council from him since he was the pioneer Registrar and a lot of information at his disposal.

The source stated that Jukwe who had been the Registrar for about nine years now while on transition period, was trying to find a way to lobby to see if he could still remain as the Registrar but was finally asked to vacate his seat on the 13^th of December, 2018 and hand over to the most senior staff of the Council thereby throwing up Basil Okpara as acting Registrar to pilot the affairs of the Council until a substantive Registrar is appointed.

“So, all this while, we have been trying to gather all the necessary information within his kitty. So, finally, you know the intrigues now, his staying on was to find a way to lobby to see if he can remain but at the end of the day, we said no, if doesn’t clear away from there, we will not get at the real information, the actual happenings in the Council.

“Finally, as at last Wednesday, he was asked to hand over to the most senior staff and so, Basil Okpara is now the acting Registrar but the initial publication that interested person for the position of Registrar should apply is still on and it is closing on the 28^th of December, 2018. The receiving of their CVs is still ongoing while Basil is acting until a substantive Registrar is appointed.

“So for now, he has taken over from Jukwe who has proceeded on terminal leave as at 14^th of December, 2018. So, the order came from the Minister that he should hand over because we are looking at getting somebody with the technical know-how that can manage there”, the source said.

The source further disclosed that while the Office of the Registrar had no tenure prior to the appointment of Sir Mike Jukwe, the Council was now working on a tenure for subsequent Registrar adding that one then number of years per tenure was agreed upon, it would be made public.

However, the Head, Public Relations of CRFFN, Mrs. Chinyere Cecilia Uromta was not available to confirm the development as her phone numbers could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.

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