The operations of critical industry watchdog, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), may gradually grinding to a halt, as the Federal Government has not released any funds to it in over a year, according to SHIPS & PORTS DAILYinvestigations.
It was gathered that since last year, the Federal Government has not made any provision of funds for the implementation of key programmes and activities that will ensure that the Council delivers on its mandate as enshrined in the Act establishing it.
The Council’s dire financial condition, it was learn, has been compounded by its not being able to generate much-needed funds from the collection of registration and practising fees from its members due to its face-off with leading freight forwarding associations, especially the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF).
SHIPS & PORTS DAILY checks revealed that the precarious financial condition has practically paralysed the Council’s activities as staff salaries have remained unpaid for about three months.
It was learnt that Enforcement Officers, who were recruited late last year by the Council, are yet to receive any salary.
Consequently, proposals by the Council to arrest the booming practice of unregistered or quack freight forwarders have largely remained stymied.
Indicative of the Council’s poor financial state, it was gathered, official travel expenses are borne personally by the Council Registrar, Sir Mike Jukwe, who is said to have also exhausted his personal funds.
Usually authoritative source informed SHIPS & PORTS DAILY last Friday that Jukwe’s recent trip to Lagos for a meeting with the National President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu; and NAGAFF Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, was funded by both Shittu and Aniebonam, because “the Council is completely broke and even oga (Jukwe) doesn’t have any money”.
Shittu reportedly financed Jukwe’s flight tickets, while Aniebonam paid for his hotel accommodation.
CRFFN came into being via Act number 16, 2007. It was enacted on April 30, 2007.
The Council is charged with, amongst other responsibilities, regulating and controlling the practice of freight forwarding in Nigeria, and promoting the highest standards of competence, practice and conduct among members of the profession.
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