Jude Maduka (Former Tin Can Chairman, NAGAFF)
I am no longer in NAGAFF, but I believe leadership is about transition and in NAGAFF they have a different way of selecting their leaders, it is by appointment, they don't do elections and this is not too good for them. Haven been an association for almost a decade now, they are still doing selection, I don't know how this will favour an association like that. But be that as it may, you only have to make do with what you have, and from what NAGAFF has done, the people they removed have served for some time and they have to give way for other people to come up, it is not about recycling, people have to come up, others need to give way. The characters I have seen so far, some of them are good materials.
Francis Onuwa (Freight forwarder)
For NAGAFF, I think they should change the method of selecting their leaders, they should be democratized, democracy is the in-thing now, it is not about selection, this is where I fault everything they are doing there at their national secretariat, you cannot democratize the chapters while at the national headquarters you do selection, it is totally wrong, and this is even against the laws of the CRFFN which says that the associations should have democratically elected leaders.
Obicee Okonkwo (ANLCA Member)
NAGAFF as an association is just coming up, they are still building up, for them to have national executives they need to carry out elections; not creating room for caretaker committees, they need to look at their constitution with a view to amending it. Now that the world is going democracy, they should also embrace it, democracy does not give room for caretaker, instead, there are long days for people to prepare for elections, if you are elected for three years, you are expected to have started preparing for another election.
Frank Ukor (AREFFN President)
Every organization has its way of doing things, if NAGAFF choses to go by selection it might not be my own system, because it is not my own I will not say it is bad, I cannot condemn them. The system they use is their own internal democracy, it is the system they have adopted, except the CRFFN comes out tomorrow and say it is not in their regulation, but every organisation finds a way that is suitable for them. As far as I am concerned, the system that is rancour-free is the one that should be adopted, we don't want a situation in which after election people will begin to kill themselves because they want to contest elections, they spend so much money and at the end of the day they are poorer than when they contested. So I am in support of the system NAGAFF uses.
Mr. Ezenga Stanley (NAGAFF National PRO)
I am totally satisfied with how the appointments were made in ushering new leaders of the association. NAGAFF as a professional body centres more on your knowledge about freight forwarding and not your financial muscles, because you know that elections is all about money and by the time they win the elections they won't be able to lead properly because of the level of their knowledge in the profession and that is why the selection is based on your ability and knowledge about the sector and we are satisfied with the way and manner of such appointment.
Chief Austine Kelly (FERCSARA)
I will say it’s their own style of selecting their leaders and I don't see nothing wrong with that pattern. Though I don't know much about some of the appointees and their portfolios, but I believe they will perform. For instance I know Increase Uche used to be the secretary general of the association but today he is in charge of anti-corruption, same goes to Barrister Fred Akokhia who as the Deputy President is now legal adviser. But I know that for Aniebonam and members of the BOT to have come up and select these set of officers means well for NAGAFF. Although if you say democratic system, I will say No, but with time it is achievable.
Emmanuel Agubanze (Chairman Lilypond NAGAFF)
We are 100% satisfied with the manner by which the new leaders of the association emerged. In NAGAFF we have peculiar and unique ways of selecting our leaders most especially at national level and with that you will understand that it is a professional approach. Selection of national leaders has nothing to with people who have financial capability, but those we are knowledgeable and well trained in the profession of freight forwarding practice. The new thing in NAGAFF now centres on leadership and succession ;where we gather together from the chapters executives to national and project on how the next torchlight bearer will emerge after a particular leader is about to leave.
Anonymous
There is need for an association like NAGAFF to conduct elections into national positions just like what is obtainable at chapter levels of the association. However, since there has been no protest or resistance by members of the association and they love it that way, then it is a welcome development. Again, the association must not be seen to copy other groups like ANLCA considering the number of years it has been in existence. Therefore if members of the association are comfortable with the choice of executives in place presently, then I will save congratulations to NAGAFF.
Discussion about this post