The former Treasurer of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Mr. Simeon Olua has accused chairmen of key chapters of the association of not remitting their financial obligations to the association, thereby stifling the Eugene Nweke-led executives of funds.
Olua in a chat with Shipping Position Daily alleged that it has been difficult for the national executives to run the NAGAFF independently because most of the chapter chairmen are chronic defaulters who refused to meet their financial obligations to the association’s headquarters.
According to the NAGAFF former treasurer, Seme border chapter has not paid subscriptions for three years while Apapa is behind in its payment for over one year. According to him, the KLT chapter has never paid subscriptions to the headquarters since their inauguration.
He said that Tin Can and PTML chapters were the only chapters that were fairly compliant.
Olua told our correspondent that as a result of the cash crunch, the national executives sometimes find it challenging to pay secretariat staff. He also confirmed that NAGAFF Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam does not interfere in how the association is run, especially in terms of money.
He confirmed that the national executives have their full autonomy in terms of management.
"Dr. Aniebonam does not interfere in association matters, he knows the areas he makes his own money. He does not want to know our source of income and how we are running that association, unless when he noticed there is crisis, he will come in"
"I am the treasurer in charge of the collection of this money, and till tomorrow I have not handed over to anybody, I am still with the check books"
"For one good year, Apapa has not paid; I want to see how my successor will now manage them because I tolerated most of the chapter executives"
"KLT has not paid a penny since he assumed office, while Seme border is owing for three years" Olua alleged.
He alleged further that these are intentional acts by the some of the chairmen because some of them believe they have nothing to lose.
He enjoined his successor as National Treasurer of NAGAFF; Chief Tico Osisi to endure some of the chapters in order to be able to pay his workers. He however doubted it this is possible because he described him as a man that detest insults.
According to him, formally, PTML used to be most compliant, followed by Apapa.
"The first tenure of Apapa (chairman) he never owed at all, but now that he is in the second tenure he believes he is not coming back again" he alleged.
When Shipping Position Daily contacted the Apapa Chairman of NAGAFF, Dr. Fred Adjuzie, he debunked the allegations.
He however said that associations are not supposed to be for money making purposes and that NAGAFF should not be an exemption.
Ajuzie told our correspondent via telephone that: "Association is not a money making affair, we are not selling or buying anything in NAGAFF, so association is not all about making money"
"Whoever is making such allegation does not know what he is saying, if you go by the records you will see that my chapter is compliant" he said.
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