Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has said that his Ministry was not aware of the letter from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stopping the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) from collecting the Practitioners Operating Fee (POF).
Speaking exclusively to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY through his Special Assistant on Media, Innocent Ebirim in Abuja yesterday, the Minister said: “We have to be sure that the document emanated from the office of the SGF before we can make a statement about it. We all know this is a sensitive matter involving highly respected offices so one must be cautious with what we say.
“It (the SGF letter) was a directive we are reading on the pages of newspaper like everyone. I can confirm to you that as at yesterday (Monday), the official document have not reached the Minister’s table. The ministry is not aware of the document and for him to be officially aware, he has to see the circular.
“We know that SGF is superior to the FMOT so we have to be very sure that the document emanated from the office.”
It would be recalled that the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) tendered a letter to the public last week from the office of the SGF addressed to the Deputy President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA). The letter had frowned at the usurpation of the roles of the Governing Council of the CRFFN.
A copy of the letter signed by Director, Economic Monitoring, Multilateral and Research, Elaigwu Ejembi on behalf of the SGF was made available to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY by ANLCA National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Kayode Farinto.
The letter with reference number CD/P/251/V/892 dated 29th April, 2015 and entitled RE: THE DISSOLVED BOARD OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULATION OF FREIGHT FORWARDERS IN NIGERIA reads inter alia: “I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated 11th February 2015 and subsequent reminder dated 17th March, 2015 respectively, on the above subject.
“I am to re-emphasis the need for strict compliance with the provision of the Act on Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria, Act 16 of 2007. For the avoidance of doubt, in the absence of a statutorily constituted BOARD of Council, to which the power to excise function under the act is conferred, no staff of the Council has the power to exercise any function pending re-election of the Governing Board.
“Any violation of the provision of the act will be treated with appropriate reprimand.”
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