The Controller, Tin Can Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Mba Musa, has frowned at the inability of the leadership of the Association of Nigeria License Customs Agents (ANLCA) to resolve the association’s protracted crisis.
The Tin Can Customs boss seized the opportunity of the visit of the ANLCA Western Zone Coordinator, Mr John Oforbike to his office on Wednesday to express his disappointment t the in-fighting which has divided ANLCA and crippled its influence.
The Customs boss expressed shock that an association founded in 1954 and which is six years older than Nigeria, could not resolve the crisis that has bedevilled the association for over 15 months.
He was particularly disappointed that the elders in the association could not step in to address the in-fightin.
He told the delegation which included the Tin Can Port chapter chairman of ANLCA, Prince Segun Oduntan that: "I am disturbed that an association older than Nigeria cannot resolve its crisis, and we have elders in the association”
"Looking around, I don't see Customs agents that I used to know back then, which means we are not mentoring the younger ones, so if we for any reason have to leave crisis for our children, then we are not successful”.
Specifically referring to the plethora of litigations that have trailed the crisis he said: “You can’t have seven court cases in different courts and expect development, its better we do away with these court cases, so that we can move ahead", he said.
The Custom boss also urged the leaders of the association to preach compliance to their members as a way through which the association can be of help to the Customs.
Responding, the ANLCA Zonal Coordinator; John Oforbike acknowledged that there is crisis rocking the association, even to the detriment of its members,but assured that efforts are already in place to resolve it.
"For over 15 months now, ANCLA has been in crisis, to the detriment of our members with about seven court cases in different courts today, Although efforts are afoot to resolve the crisis, the western zone has to stand up for its members who are suffering seriously”
“Even the Nigeria Customs Service has been wondering about what is going on as their major constituency in stakeholders’ engagement. It is because of this that the Western Zone Chapters decided to take advantage of ANCLA constitutional provisions to begin to come to the aid of the long suffering, teeming membership, as the closest authority to them, to table members’ challenges with a view to addressing such issues" he said.
Ofobike also highlighted some challenges faced by its members at the command, urging the Customs controller to look into them, so as to make significant progress in port operations.
He said: "Resumption time of officers to their duty post has constantly been violated with many resuming duty as late as 11.00 hours daily so we urge you to please look into this and ensure that the resumption time is earlier than this”
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