By Oluyinka Onigbinde
Clearing agents have accused the governing council for the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN) of deliberately foot-dragging on the appointment of a substantive Registrar for the council.
Recall that the governing council had appointed Mrs. Chinyere Uromta as the acting registrar, following the expiration of the tenure of Barr. Sam Nwakohu as the registrar of the council in January this year, a decision that some freight forwarders have criticized.
The freight forwarders lamented that prior to the expiration of the tenure of the registrar, the governing council ought to have put up an advertorial calling for applications from qualified candidates fit for the position and not to have created a vacuum for the position of an acting registrar, that is not provided for in the CRFFN Act.
About one month after the appointment of an acting Registrar, without calling for the expression of interest for the position of the registrar, stakeholders especially, clearing agents have lamented the deliberate foot-dragging of the appointment of a substantive registrar.
This is even as they alleged that the governing council prefers to work with an “acting Registrar” who would always be compliant with whatever the governing council says, knowing that the position is not provided for in the CRFFN Act.
In a chat with our correspondent, a freight forwarder and former member of the CRFFN consultative forum; Mr. Chidi Anthony Opara, criticized the council for delaying in the appointment of a substantive registrar of the council, this is even as he stated that the CRFFN Act does not make provision for “Acting Registrar” or Deputy or Assistant Registrar.
He said: “First, the CRFFN establishment act (act 16 of 2007) designates the Registrar as the Secretary of the Governing Council. Second, the CRFFN establishment Act does not make provision for an “Acting Registrar” or Deputy or Assistant Registrar.
‘Third, what this means is that since the expiration of the tenure of the last Registrar, the CRFFN Governing Council has not had a duly-constituted meeting. It also means that all actions, etc, taken by the “Acting Registrar” is within the realm of illegality.
“I do not think that they are interested in appointing a Registrar for now. I think that they prefer to work with an “Acting Registrar” who would always be ‘compliant’, knowing that the position is not provided for in the establishment Act.
“Finally, I would like to remind us that CRFFN is not a military cantonment where orders are issued and must be obeyed. CRFFN is a civil body created by law and so its every action, etc must be within the ambit of (civil) law”, he said.
Speaking also, the National Secretary of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA); Mr. Festus Ukwu lamented the delay in the appointment of a substantive Registrar, and alleged that the governing council is controlled by the Minister of Transportation and as such the governing council can’t take a decision except the Minister says so.
According to him, “the appointment of the registrar of the council is supposed to be done by the governing council, but it has become political, the government will just wake up and the Minister will just appoint anybody; just like the last one, so the governing council doesn’t have a say, because they are being manipulated by the minister, the council has become a government tool, so it whatever the minister tells them that they will do”.
On his part, a former President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Mr. Eugene Nweke also opined that the delay could be as a result of trying to get ministerial approval or could probably be as a result of lack of funds, due to the naira swap policy. He said this could have affected the council in putting up a public advertisement regarding the position of the Registrar. He however pleaded that the council be given more time, but not indefinite to work out the modalities for the appointment of a substantive Registrar.
“First, this is a professional regulatory council with governmental correlation (interest-wise), hence, administrative procedures or protocols are to be observed. Most importantly, ministerial approval is required in the process, and you know the prevailing season of the land.
“Possibly, they are trying to do a proper internal administrative re-evaluation too, and fix key issues revolving around management, before going public to advertise for another Registrar.
‘Again, public advertisements are not free. The Naira swap policy resulting in the scarcity of cash and subsequently led to so many banks not working optimally, may not be ruled out as well”, he said.
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