Towards Effective and Competent CRFFN Board

On November 1, 2018, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, inaugurated the third governing Council of the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN),

This was after about three months the elections into the Council were conducted.

The intervening period was characterised by intrigues, high-wire politicking, internal wrangling within the ranks of the fragmented freight forwarding associations which almost aborted the inauguration.

The anxiety was equally heightened by the apparent lack of enthusiasm of the Minister to inaugurate the council which led to an unbearable delay.

So, on Thursday, the first day of November, the concerned stakeholders heaved a sigh of relief when Amaechi, after much dilly-dally, eventually inaugurated the governing council.

We at nigeriamaritime360.com equally share in the euphoria of the successful inauguration after what seemed like a threat to truncate the laudable event.

However, we are not under any illusion that with the emergence of the principal officers of the Governing Council as well as the inauguration of the body, the coast is now clear.

On the contrary, it is not yet uhuru as the Council is faced with formidable opposition and daunting tasks that will eventually define its success or downfall.

Ironically, apart from some challenges which are external to the Council, the biggest threat to its survival is the members of the Council themselves and its constituents.

The five federating associations in the council have over the years been the albatross which has emasculated the body.

The first two governing councils from 2008 to 2012 were never allowed to function due to internal wrangling among the associations which were mainly rooted in greed, self-preservation, deep-seated mistrust and outright mischief that have led to the castration of the two previous boards.

The two previous councils exhausted their tenures grappling with litigations from federating associations on the issue of sharing formula for the proposed collection of Practitioners Operation Fee (POF), identity crisis and other related mundane matters that border on greed and selfish motives.

It was a little wonder that there was six years of inactivity as from 2012 till 2018 when the incumbent council was inaugurated.

The festering distrust among the federating associations made it difficult to have a governing council spanning this period.

We must however attest to and laud the determination, sacrifice, commitment and tenacity of purpose of the Registrar of the Council, Sir Mike Jukwe, who warded off all attempts to strangulate the Council.

In the face of hostile operating environment populated by uncooperative constituents, the Registrar held the council together, even with paucity of funds.

That is why we urge the federating units and other stakeholders in the freight forwarding industry to regard the inauguration of the third governing Council of CRFFN as another golden opportunity which they must seize to revamp the industry.

It is a rare chance which must not be frittered away on the altar of self-preservation.

We urge the federating associations and other stakeholders to rally round the present governing council in its onerous task of delivering on its mandate to cleanse professionalise and unite the fractionalized freight forwarders.

The time is auspicious given the willingness of the transport minister to give the council the necessary political push to carry out its duties.

This task could only be done if all the parties who are still aggrieved by the pre-election, post-election and inauguration of the Governing Council sheath their swords and resolve to work for the common goals of the Council.

Consequently, greed, selfishness, self-preservation, suspicions and distrust among stakeholders should be subsumed under selflessness, commitment and general camaraderie that will engender the success of the present council.

This platform believes that the freight forwarders will benefit more if they cooperate, support and rally round the council to confront the many ills plaguing the industry.

As a result, the issue of foreigners encroaching into the profession, the vital synergy between the council and the Nigeria Customs Service as well as training and retraining of freight forwarders could be tackled only in an atmosphere devoid of mutual suspicions and unnecessary tension.

We urge the leadership of the federating associations to shun bitterness, schism and self-preservative attitude that bogged down the two previous councils.

We are particularly urging the leadership of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders led by Dr Boniface Aniebonam to sheath its sword over its grievances concerning the manner the Chairman of the Council emerged which it threatened to challenge.

We equally appeal to the factional leadership of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents led by Lucky Amiwero over its constant litigations against succeeding governing councils over differences on interpretation of the CRFFN statute.

More importantly, all the federating associations should display high level of maturity and patriotism over the collection of the Practitioners Operation Fee (POF), which is the internally -generated revenue (IGR) of the Council.

If the council must succeed in its tasks, it must not be starved of funds as was the case with the two previous councils.

Collection of this fee is critical to the survival and effectiveness of the Council and we urge all the stakeholders to cooperate towards this regards.

This is imperative given the approval of government that the council should go ahead to collect the fees to fund its operations as government subventions are always insufficient and far in between.

The council, we learnt, only got government subvention once since its creation in 2007, hence the need to allow the third governing Council get the needed financial tonic to boost its performance.

It is also our wish that the Chairman and all members of the Governing Council will justify the confidence of the teeming stakeholders by displaying utmost sense of commitment and responsibility in the course of their duties.

We hope members of the Council are aware of the high expectations of the stakeholders and the crucial need not to dare disappoint them.

History beckons on them to bequeath an enduring legacy on the industry and chart sustainable ways in repositioning the sector which would be a compass for succeeding councils.

To this end, we urge members of the Council not to see their position as a meal ticket but a call to duty and an opportunity to write their names in gold.

With the support of government, the cooperation of stakeholders and the commitment of members of the third governing Council, it is our hope that Alhaji Ibrahim Tsanni -led governing council will take the freight forwarding industry to a greater height which will be an envy of international community.