Frustration is mounting among freight forwarders in the nation’s maritime industry as the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) remains silent on the disbursement of the statutory five percent dividends from the Practitioners Operating Fee (POF).
Despite several excuses, assurances and even requests for updated details from freight forwarding associations and its members, many eligible freight forwarders claimed that they have not received any payment or even a clear explanation from the council.
Checks by Shipping Position Daily show that freight forwarders still pay POF at the various ports’ terminals before their cargoes are released for examination and delivery.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the management of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) last year ordered for the suspension of the payment of POF following controversies surrounding the remittance of the five percent dividends to freight forwarders and associations by CRFFN.
On its part, the CRFFN claimed to have remitted a five percent declarant payment for six months to all compliant \ freight forwarding associations and individuals. However, freight forwarders under the aegis of NAGAFF claimed \ that they are yet to receive any payment from CRFFN for over two years of paying POF into the coffers of the Federal Government.
However, in an exclusive chat with our correspondent, the Acting Registrar of CRFFN, Mrs. Chinyere Uromta had earlier explained that prior to the introduction of the 40 percent deduction introduced by the federal government in favor of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), the Council had consistently paid declarants their share of the POF.
Uromta informed that that 40 percent deduction had impacted the council’s ability to maintain regular payments. According to her, the compulsory payment into the CRF of the Federal Government had led to a shortfall in funds available for disbursement.
However, speaking with our correspondent last week, the National Secretary of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), Mr Frank Obiekezie expressed strong discontent,adding that no payments have been disbursed to the association or any of its members.
Obiekzie explained that the association got a meager amount from CRFFN last year without any narration or description of what the money was meant for. He noted that the association had written a letter to CRFFN to give details, but the Council has not responded to inquiries regarding the status of the pending payments.
The AREFFN Scribe however informed that the acting Registrar as well as the Council’s management team has promised an official visit to the association. Obiekezie noted that he expects that the clarity will be given by CRFFN regarding the disbursement of the POF dividends to eligible members.
When contacted, the National Secretary of NAGAFF, Mr Igwe Kingsley noted that he hasn’t heard any update as regards the disbursement of the dividend to members of his association and would not be about to give a statement.
While voicing his displeasure over the issue, Igwe expressed his disapproval of the POF itself adding that it is against global trade agreements which creates an avenue for unnecessary cost and delay of cargo clearance at the ports.
“I am not a fan of CRFFN collecting POF, because it is against the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement. It is an additional cost to logistic processes. It is an additional bottleneck to logistic processes and therefore I do not think it is a good thing for the Government or any group to apply it to the cost of clearance”, Igwe said.
On his part, the National Secretary of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Mr Festus Ukwu affirmed that his association has not got anything yet from CRFFN. He informed that the Council requested for the account number which they have sent, but it is yet to receive anything.
Also speaking, the National Vice President of National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC), Anthony Onyike said he is yet to hear any update on the disbursement as his association and members are still waiting for the council to do the needful.
Onyike said, “I don’t think anybody has got it. Nobody has told me or briefed me on that yet. I have not heard from anybody that has got the dividends of the POF”.