Ahead of the long-expected National Executive Committee (NECOM) elections of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), members of the association are setting their sights on a transformative shift from the issues that have bugged the association down in the last five years.
Speaking with different members of the association last week, they set new agenda, which border on unity, selflessness and transparency in leadership,amongst others top their expectations from the incoming administration.
In an exclusive chat with the immediate past National Secretary of the association, Babatunde Mukaila, he expressed his desire to see ANLCA evolve into an entity “where nothing is personalized.” He called for the dissolution of factionalism and the creation of an association that transcends individual interests.
One of his most prominent expectations is that the association should be self-sufficient. To achieve this, Mukaila proposed the establishment of operational autonomy within various departments, including the accounts and training departments.
In his words: “I want to see ANLCA where nothing is personalized, where there is fast-paced, moving, departmental headquarters. I want to see ANLCA where you don’t need to see the president before the office runs. I want to see ANLCA where the corporate members have free access to the benefit of their membership.
“I would like to see ANLCA where it is self-serving. Self-serving in the sense that the account department should run, the training department should run. I said we really came in with a whole lot of ideas. We have a library. ANLCA should be where any company comes to look for technocrats. We should be an institution by now where everybody that wants to practice custom brokerage reckons with.
“So I want to see ANLCA that knows that it’s not about individuality. It’s not about a person. I want to see ANLCA where it is no more about factions. I want to see ANLCA where the Board of Trustees should meet three times in a year. The constitution equally stipulates that NEC should be twice in a year.
“It shouldn’t be an organization where everything revolves around the elected people. It should be an office where there are paid staff, departments where you can talk about research and technology”, Mukaila said.
Also speaking, a Chieftain at the Muritala Muhammed Airport Chapter of ANLCA, Alhaji Hakeem Bakare noted that members of the association are optimistic that the incoming executives will revolutionize the association by eradicating sources of division amongst members.
Bakare said the association looks forward to a total reshuffle in the leadership and restoration of ANLCA as a body. He also opined that the major aim of the incoming NECOM should be to ensure a level playing field for all practitioners.
While urging members of the association to look away from the wrangling and conflict of the past, Bakare stressed that he is convinced that a new ANLCA will be birthed from the incoming NECOM leaving a legacy for those coming behind.
“I wish whoever becomes the new president success and good luck. All we need is the right direction as they take us to the level we have not been before. We don’t want division in our great association again. We are one big family and we want that to continue, so that those coming behind us will follow our footsteps and achieve their aim.
He lamented that, “the crisis that has lingered in the association for the past years, has become a past issue. We do not pray for such to happen again. We also look forward to better recognition from the government because we are licensed Customs agents. The Federal government licensed us. We are not touts. We are making revenue for the government so we expect more from them”.
On his part, the Seme Chapter Chairman of the association, Onyekachi Ojinma stated that he looks forward to an ANLCA where her lost glories from the protracted crises will be restored. He also expects that all aggrieved members will be reconciled in order to maintain a long lasting peace in the association.
“I expect that the glory of ANLCA is brought back because right now, ANLCA is sitting on a keg of gunpowder and can explode anytime if care is not taken.
“We expect good governance from the next president of ANLCA. We need peace. He should reconcile with all aggrieved persons. We look forward to an ANLCA that is well-respected. The president should bring back the respect of the association. We look forward to a formidable association where we would be able to make input in government policies. Peace is all we seek for” Ojinma noted.
Another member of the association and Chairman of Oodua Freight Forwarders Association, Chief Ajibowu Afolabi said he looked forward to the incoming leaders of the association to adequately relate with the Federal Government , Customs and other relevant agencies and being involved in the decision making body when formulating policies affecting their operations.
“Like the slogan of the association, we look forward to having one big family. In unity we stand, divided we fall. Definitely we are going to unite and I believe that. In terms of our profession we expect that the leaders at the apex body of the association would adequately relate with the Federal Government on Customs duties to make sure we generate more revenue to the federal government.
“We have done well as regards this, but we still need to do more”, Ajibowu concluded.
