There is a quiet discontent in the leadership and followership of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) following the recent dissolution of the association’s National Executive Committee (NECOM).
Scores of top members of the association including those who were affected by the last month bombshell have been holding secret meetings where the issue has been the only item of the agenda.
They accused the founder of the association; Dr Boniface Aniebonam of misrepresenting the constitution of NAGAFF and turning himself and the national president of the association; Chief Increase Uche to defacto sole administrator of the association.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that, the National President of NAGAFF, Chief Increase Uche was quoted as announcing this at an emergency meeting of the association’s National Officers.
He also affirmed that the sack of the national officers was in line with the Constitution of the association.
Recall also that Dr Aniebonam had declared that the dissolution of the NAGAFF national executive committee was in order, adding that since they were not elected, they could be sacked anytime.
He said recently that, “they (NECOM members) were not elected and can be dissolved at any time. The chapter chairmen who were elected still have their four years which will end next year to complete".
Liking the sacked officers to Customs officers, he had added: "Talking about the dissolving the NECOM of NAGAFF is like asking why CGC why he transferred some officers”. The NAGAFF founder explained that since members of the association’s NECOM were not elected, they were not in a position to contest their removal.
But our correspondent confirmed last week that some of the affected officers see the action as having being masterminded by the association’s founder, whom they alleged is running foul of NAGAFF’s constitution.
A senior member of the association who pleaded anonymity because of what he explained as not pre-empting the aggrieved members’ plans, expressed anger at dissolution of the NECOM.
“NAGAFF people have been complaining, Dr (Aniebonam) just woke and dissolved the NECOM, leaving only himself and Increase (NAGAFF President) to be working, that is very unconstitutional”, he stated, even as he added that, “by our constitution, there is nothing like office of the board”.
He also faulted the justification of the NAGAFF Founder that since the national officers were not elected they could be sacked anytime.
“That era is gone; our constitution say after 10 years, such positions must be filled by elected officers”, he also noted that chapters now have elected executives, and asked wondered why Dr Aniebonam does not want same for the national officers.
“In any case, NAGAFF has not had elected national officers since the NECOM was dissolved, we only have Dr and Increase Uche running the association. I don’t think this is good for NAGAFF”.
When asked about the next line of action, he refused to divulge it, saying it would be pre-emptive.
Meanwhile, the National President of the association has lifted the ban on electioneering campaign towards next year’s elections into the association’s chapter.
The current chapter executives came into office in April 2014, after the March 2014 elections which brought into office for a 4-year tenure.
According to the Constitution of NAGAFF, a member of the chapter Executive is entitled to serve only two (2) terms of 4-years each.
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