By Tosin Aribisala
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has rejected the 6:6:1:1:1 sharing formula earlier agreed upon by freight forwarding associations ahead of the election of the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
He made this known in Abuja last week during a meeting with all the contestants in the election while directing that the Council's act provisions should be strictly adhered to in the course of the electioneering.
Recall that five accredited associations comprising Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) and National Association of Freight Forwarders and Airfreight Consolidators (NAFFAC) unanimously agreed to the sharing formula which allows ANLCA and NAGAFF to present six candidates each while the remaining associations present one candidate each.
However, the Minister who directed that the election be conducted in the next two weeks played down the strategy.
Confirming the development to our correspondent in his office, the Chairman, African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics in Nigeria (APFFLON), Tin Can Island Port branch, Godfrey Emeka Nwosu an aspirant ahead of the election who has, however, stepped down, said that the Minister called all the aspirants to Abuja last week to know the latest ahead of the poll.
Nwosu who expressed his joy towards the act that allows independent and registered freight forwarders to vote and be voted for in the Council election also added that as against the plan to centralize the election, the Minister has instructed that it must be carried out in zones.
"The Minister called all the contestants to a meeting in Abuja on the 26th of this month to hear about their plan ahead of the CRFFN election but to his surprise, nothing has changed.
"In the course of the meeting, the sharing formula agreed upon by the five accredited associations was presented to him but he rejected the strategy.
"He said that the provisions of the act must be strictly followed. And what does that act say? It says independent and CRFFN registered freight forwarders can vote and be voted for provided his registration and accreditation under CRFFN is two years and above. He also gave them two weeks starting from that 26th to conduct the election. So, all the contestants under the umbrella of one association or the other are going back now to restrategize.
"The implication of this is that all the plans to register bike men and University students to vote in the election have been frustrated now. What every contestant would have to do now is to go and get the confidence of his or her constituents. No more hiding under any associations whether you are qualified and competent or not.
“Against the previous plan to centralize the election, the poll is to be conducted in all the zones which Western and Eastern regions.
No comments:
Post a Comment