WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF POF COLLECTION- ANLCA PRESIDENT

BY Innocent Orok

Despite the discordance tunes by maritime stakeholders on the collection of the Professional Operations Fees (POF) by the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) says they are fully in support of the fees collection.

The decision was contained in a statement titled “POF Collection – the position of ANLCA,”. The message which was addressed to all ANLCA members was signed by the National President, Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike.

The ANLCA position also collaborates the stance of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) which two days ago openly supports the collection of the POF by the CRFFN.

The National President of ANLCA, Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike, in a letter to all members of the ANLCA on Tuesday in Lagos said that the association being a body established to serve as an umbrella body for all Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders in Nigeria, is 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 its expectations.

Nwabunike noted that ANLCA must do well to encourage all its members in the CRFFN Governing Council to move forward and focus on the actualization of their major aims of being in the Council, adding that, this is the responsibility placed on them and the duty owed to the body as a whole.

On issues concerning CRFFN and ANLCA, Nwabunike 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 statement must be conformed with all 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.

According to the ANLCA president “The CRFFN being a body established by the Act of the Federal Government is endowed with all the proper organs 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 as 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.”t

He called on all members to comply with the directive of the federal government and assured that this new professional development is for their common good and collective benefits of all.