By Oluyinka Onigbinde
Months after the inauguration of the current National Executive Committee (NECOM) of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), findings by our correspondent have revealed a growing discontent over the delay in conducting elections into the association’s board and chapter elections.
Our correspondent observed that despite the Customs Consultative Council (CCC) urging the NECOM to conduct these elections within a month of its inauguration, little progress has been made, leading to tension within the association across its chapters.
In a recent chat with the National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA; Mr Emmanuel Onyeme, he expressed uncertainty about the exact timing of the elections, citing challenges and tensions within the association.
He further shed light on the complexities surrounding the elections. He highlighted that there had been significant pressure during the initial election process, which involved the CCC.
Onyeme explained: “You know how everything went on in the (NECOM) election. From the beginning of the election, there was so much tension. There was so much pressure that brought in the CCC, the Custom Consultative Committee, which there was an agreement in a hotel that said after the next election, the next election that should come is the board election.”
He continued, “Then after the board, the chapters and when we went for inauguration at the Customs Headquarters, there was a statement that the election of the board should be conducted within a month. Despite these agreements, progress has been slow, leaving many chapters, including Kano and Abuja, overdue for elections”.
Onyeme emphasized that the current focus lies on organizing elections for the Kano and Abuja chapters. When questioned about chapters like Apapa and Tin Can, which reportedly have factional chairmen, Onyeme admitted that he couldn’t provide any concrete information about their election timetables, indicating the complexity and uncertainty surrounding the process.
However when our correspondent reached out to some of the factional chairmen as regards the delay in the chapter’s election, decided to remain silent. The factional chairman of Tin Can chapter of ANLCA; Mr. Ojo Akintoye said, “With due respect I have nothing to say about the election, I have not been around and I don’t want to get myself entangled in the association politics for now.”
On his part, Mr Sylvester Budu of Apapa chapter emphasized the importance of unity within ANLCA, suggesting a willingness to accept any elected leadership that emerges. He said, “ANLCA is one big family, there is no faction anymore, whoever indicates interest and wins will be accepted wholeheartedly, we are pursuing peace.”
When contacted for comments over failure of the current NECOM to conduct election immediately after its inauguration Eugene Nweke, Secretary of the Customs Consultative Council,(CCC) also weighed in on the issue, highlighting the CCC’s intervention efforts to restore peace within ANLCA. He emphasized that the board’s role was temporary and intended solely to facilitate elections.
Nweke urged the NECOM to take responsibility for conducting the elections promptly, stressing the significance of a stable and functional ANLCA for the customs trade. He stated, “As soon as a proper election has been conducted, it is the onus of the president to direct the ASECO to organize the election for the board immediately. Because we say it should follow, it will follow, immediately, the election is concluded, and the next is board.”
“The CCC, after the election, and based on most of the discussions held prior to the election, stood on the premise of the agreement, the peace accord reached in Abuja.” He highlighted the proactive steps taken by the CCC to facilitate dialogue and compromise among ANLCA stakeholders, aiming to foster a conducive environment for elections.
Reflecting on the challenges encountered during the peace process, Nweke acknowledged the need for concessions and compromises from all parties involved. “A lot of sacrifices were made and we had to compromise. We were made to compromise, and let some of their guidelines be reviewed. And of course, the constitution, we had to amend it for peace”, he added.
Addressing concerns about the delay in conducting board elections, Nweke underscored the NECOM’s responsibility to uphold the agreed timelines. “So the NECOM should be the one telling us what is holding them to conduct an election into the board”, he said, even as he urged the NECOM to prioritize the election process, stressing the importance of a functional board in advancing ANLCA’s objectives.
However in a recent press briefing the National President ANLCA, Emenike Nwokeoji, has shed light on the delays surrounding fresh elections into the Board of Trustees (BOT). Speaking with maritime journalists in his office, Nwokeoji attributed the delay primarily to financial constraints and bureaucratic hurdles.
Nwokeoji emphasized that the association is facing challenges accessing certain accounts and financial resources due to the refusal of some past BOT members to sign off on necessary documentation. This bureaucratic bottlenecks, he said has impeded efforts to regularize the association’s financial affairs, thereby stalling the process of holding elections into the BoT of the association.
Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, Nwokeoji reassured stakeholders that the NECOM is actively addressing these obstacles and is committed to initiating the election process promptly. He underscored the association’s determination to overcome these hurdles and ensure that elections for the BoT commence before the end of this month.
