The pioneer President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Dr. Rafiu Ladipo has lauded the dissolution of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) governing council, viewing it as a necessary step towards ensuring fair representation and fostering growth within the council.
Dr. Ladipo’s endorsement of the dissolution comes with a strong call for the inclusion of all registered associations in the new structure.
Recall that in June 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the immediate dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government parastatals, agencies, Institutions, and government-owned Companies.
About 14 governing boards of government agencies such as the Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC), Code of Conduct Bureau, Federal Character Commission, Federal Civil Service Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and National Population Commission (NPC) amongst others were excluded from the dissolution.
Some of the affected MDAs include: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) as well as the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
But, in an exclusive chat with Shipping Position Daily last week, Dr. Ladipo who is currently the Chairman Board of Trustees of the National Council of Managing Directors and Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) criticized the previous composition of the governing council of CRFFN, which he claimed excluded certain registered associations, leading to an imbalanced and divisive governance structure.
Dr. Ladipo argued that the representation of only a few associations on the board was detrimental to the overall effectiveness of the CRFFN. He welcomed the recent dissolution of the CRFFN council, viewing it as a positive step towards resolving these issues.
However, he advocated for a new board structure that includes all five registered freight forwarding associations, which he believes is essential for fostering peace, progress, and growth within the council.
The pioneer ANLCA President expressed frustration over the lack of progress despite his previous discussions with CRFFN officials. He pointed out that excluding certain associations results in a divided board where decisions were often made without considering the perspectives of those left out.
in his words: “It is crucial for the CRFFN to revisit the board’s composition. Having only one, two, or three registered associations on the board is not acceptable. All the various associations should be recognized and included. Excluding one or two associations undermines the council’s development and the involvement of younger or emerging groups. When two of these registered associations are excluded, it creates a divided house.
“Those on the board tend to focus only on their own interests, neglecting the needs and views of the excluded groups. This is not right, and CRFFN needs to address this issue. It is a good development that the board has been dissolved. For the new composition of the board, it is important that all five registered associations are represented on the board. This is the only way to achieve harmony and advancement.”
“If the government identifies a problem and takes corrective action, we should not be held back by tenure claims. The focus should be on ensuring the board’s composition is correct. If things are wrong, decisive measures by the government to correct them are necessary and beneficial.” Dr Ladipo stressed.