· Plans Control Of Proceeds Of Controversial POF
· Sponsors Amendment of CRFFN Act
The Federal Ministry of Transportation has offered its former secretariat on Joseph Street in Lagos to the embattled Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to serve as the Council’s new head office, in a move seen as preparatory to taking full control of the embattled Council.
The relocation which was confirmed by the CRFFN last week come amidst apprehension among freight forwarders over the pending amendment of the Council’s enabling Act and the rumoured take-over of the Council’s machinery by the Federal Government.
The relocation also follows revelations that the on-going plan to amend the Council’s Act is aimed at wrestling control of the Council from freight forwarders to the Government.
In the proposed amendment, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the CRFFN will be an appointee of the President, a clear departure from the status quo whereby the Chairman is elected by Council members.
Insiders say that the bone of contention is the revenue that is accruable from the Practitioners Operations Fees (POF), which is also payable on all cargoes, including wet cargo.
Sources also blamed the development on the refusal of freight forwarding associations to agree on how to share proceeds from the POF.
A leading freight forwarder who pleaded to be anonymous stated that, “proceeds from the POF come in Billions of Naira, they have allowed the Government to put its eyes in it, you know it is also collectable on freighting of wet cargoes too and this is a lot of money”.
Confirming the relocation of CRFFN from Apapa to Lagos to our correspondent last week, Head, Corporate Affairs of CRFFN; Mrs Uromta Chinyere said in a statement that the directive to relocate to the former Ministry of Transport head office on Joseph Street in Lagos, “was conveyed by the Director, General Services of the Ministry on behalf of the Minister, Ekaro C.C”.
“This gesture suggests that the movement of CRFFN Headquarters to the new place has become paramount and urgent for effective delivery of her Regulatory and Enforcement functions and for her prompt attention to the training needs of the practitioners as the Complex would contain training and seminar halls”.
She also quoted the Registrar of the Council; Sir Mike Jukwe as thanking the Minister for the initiative and re-affirmed the Council readiness to deliver effectively on her mandates.
According to her, the Registrar noted that the new office complex is very befitting has. She also confirmed that the Council had already taken possession of its new accommodation, adding that “it provides conducive work environment that will enhance Staff productivity”.
These developments also come ahead of the Public Hearing being planned by the House of Representatives Committee on Ports, Harbour and Waterways for May 22 and 23 in Abuja.
The CRFFN Act is listed among the eight to be subjected to public debate. The amendment is being sponsored by the Chairman House Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways; Hon. Patrick Asadu.
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