By Joshua Yousouph
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and the leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have reaffirmed their commitment to deeper collaboration aimed at improving trade facilitation, freight forwarding regulation, and workers’ welfare in the maritime sector.
This was the focus of discussions during a courtesy visit by members of the National Executive Council of MWUN to the management of CRFFN, led by the Registrar/CEO, Mr. Kingsley Igwe at the Council’s headquarters in Lagos on Monday.
Speaking during the meeting, Igwe commended the leadership style of the MWUN President General, Comrade Francis Bunu, describing the union as a dependable partner in the maritime industry. He praised the conduct of MWUN district officers working with CRFFN, noting that they had demonstrated professionalism, responsibility, and cooperation in their engagements with the council.
According to him, CRFFN has within the last 18 months intensified efforts to reposition freight forwarding practice in line with global standards through digitalization, standardization, licensing, and capacity development initiatives.
Igwe explained that the council’s digitalization drive was designed to modernize freight forwarding operations and facilitate seamless integration into the National Single Window platform.
He disclosed that over 500 legitimate freight forwarders had already been verified under the initiative, adding that the council had also commenced a licensing regime for freight forwarders in compliance with international best practices.
He further revealed that CRFFN had established a complaint desk to address disputes and grievances among freight forwarders, shippers, terminal operators, and other stakeholders in the supply chain.
The Registrar said the council was also working towards standardizing freight forwarding charges to enable importers and cargo owners determine the actual cost of cargo clearance and logistics services.
On capacity building, Igwe stated that more than 250 freight forwarders had been trained in air cargo operations, while additional programmes targeting sea freight operations were underway. He added that CRFFN had also strengthened collaborations with strategic stakeholders within and outside Nigeria to support reforms in the maritime and logistics sector.
Igwe also appreciated MWUN for its support to the council, particularly during the passing of the former Registrar, Barrister Samuel Nwakohu. He said the relationship between both organizations would go beyond union-agency engagement to become a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the maritime industry.
In his remarks, MWUN President General, Comrade Francis Bunu, described CRFFN as a critical institution contributing to trade facilitation and revenue generation for the Federal Government.
Bunu commended Igwe for introducing innovations capable of simplifying business processes in the maritime sector and pledged the union’s continuous support for the council. “As far as the union is concerned, we are by you. We will always stand by you,” he stated.
The union leader, however, called on the Federal Government to improve workers’ welfare through salary increments and enhanced conditions of service, stressing that workers remained central to the nation’s economic growth.
He maintained that workers’ salaries should be reviewed periodically in line with prevailing economic realities. Bunu also raised concerns over outstanding union dues owed to MWUN, urging the CRFFN management to ensure prompt remittance in accordance with labour laws.
Responding, Igwe assured the union that the council would address the issue of outstanding dues, explaining that while deductions for 2025 had been regular, arrangements were already in place to clear pending obligations from 2024.
He also pledged to escalate the union’s demand for salary increments and improved conditions of service for CRFFN staff to the appropriate authorities, noting that discussions on a new condition of service for staff had already commenced.
At the end of the meeting, Igwe formally pronounced MWUN as a “strategic partner” of CRFFN, reaffirming the council’s commitment to sustained collaboration with the union.
