The National Association of Government approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has written to President Muhammadu Buhari with a call on him to restructure, reform and reposition the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other related agencies for optimal performance devoid of corrupt act and actions.
The letter dated 30th September, 2016 which was copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the National Security Adviser and 16 others and was signed by the National Secretary of the association, Dr. Arthur Igwilo informed the President that SON and NAFDAC were constantly in the habit of breaching and abusing the Acts establishing them.
Igwilo described systemic corruption as the greatest problem bedeviling the nation’s match towards a greater Nigeria and economic recovery adding that it was as a result of the human element problem borne out of bad leadership in most of the organisations.
He maintained that the inherent abuse of the statutes necessitated the present high level smuggling activities to circumvent the illegal rules as it were while appreciating his efforts towards repositioning the leadership of SON which he was the subject matter and that the association was looking forward to a total restructuring in the management and administration of the organization.
According to him,” Mr. President, it is on record that our country is going through economic recession to the extent that our country may be thinking of selling some of its assets to reflate the economy. It is most unfortunate that it seems we have not realized that parasatals like SON, NAFDAC and some in the energy sector of the economy have a major role to play in our march to reform, restructure and enhance the revenue base of Nigeria. Again, that Nigeria may be a dumping ground for adultrated, inferior and fake products is most disturbing. A situation wherein Nigerian consumers are not getting value for their money, requires your immediate attention, if we must reverse the trend of hopelessness in our international trade and commerce.
“Mr. President, there is the urgent need to restructure, reform and reposition SON, NAFDAC and indeed all regulatory agencies of Nigeria to become optimal in their performance devoid of corrupt acts and actions. The concept of systemic corruption is the greatest problem bedeviling our march towards a greater Nigeria and economic recovery. It is basically human element, borne out of bad leadership in most of the organizations. It is possible that either that they do not understand what your “change” mantra set out to achieve or that it is deliberate to frustrate your efforts.
“As a strategic Association at the approved entry points of Nigeria, we shall in due time give you a blueprint on what to do with most of the organizations with emphasis on personal management, corruption and enforcement of statutes. It is with regret that we inform you that organizations like SON and National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) are in the habit of breaching and abusing statutes establishing them. Mr. President Sir, it is normal for Government agencies to make rules in relation to their administration and management, but those rules must be in tandem with the Act establishing them. These agencies other than being regulatory have become revenue collecting agencies, at the detriment of their primary responsibility, which is to ensure that standards are maintained.
“It is on record that the inherent abuse of these statutes necessitated the present high level smuggling activities to circumvent the illegal rules as it were. We appreciate your efforts towards repositioning the leadership of SON which is our subject matter and we are looking forward to a total restructuring in the management and administration of the organization”.
The NAGAFF Scribe insisted that the Enforcement Unit of SON has neither reasons nor the powers to breach the trade corridors of the city and federal highways of Nigeria thus intercepting and arresting containers duly cleared from the ports saying that the mandate of SON was to visit the ports on request on any import of their interest, using the platform of the NICIS of the Nigeria Customs Service which can be viewed electronically.
“The mandate and operations of SON is at the importers warehouse or factory of manufacture and not the city roads of Lagos and Federal highways. For emphasis, Mr. President Sir, democracy is predicated on rule of law and order, and to our mind, it is the way forward to a sustainable civil society of our dream”, he said.
He however thanked President Buhari for the present leadership in the following parasatals including but not limited to Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) as the commercial regulator, the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) pointing out that the need for Nigeria Customs Service, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) leadership to engage the mantra of “change” cannot be over emphasized even as he urged the President to focus his attention to the ports as according to him, “corruption is quite high there”.
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