CRFFN Election: Independent Candidates Shun Reconciliation Meeting as Association Leaders Insist on Sharing Formula
By Our Reporter
The logjam between the freight forwarding associations and independent candidates on the issue of sharing formula, otherwise known as 6:1:1:1 arrangement and single candidacy in the forthcoming election into the Governing Board of the Council Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has remained unresolved.
This was as the leaders of the freight forwarding associations held a reconciliation meeting as advised by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani.
However, the independent candidates shunned the meeting which was held at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
Monday’s meeting had in attendance the Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Iju Tony Nwabunike, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, former President of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), Dr Frank Ukor who said he attended the meeting as the Founder of AREFFN.
The President General, Nigerian Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC), Prince Adeyinka Bakare, who attended the meeting had expressed surprise that the independent candidates were not in attendance, adding that they were all invited to Monday’s meeting.
However, the association leaders resolved that they still stand on their earlier position on 6:6:1:1:1 arrangement, under which ANLCA, NAGAFF will get 6 candidates slots each while the three other associations will get each slot for the CRFFN Governing Board election.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, said after every consideration, the associations stand on having the sharing formula arrangement.
Ladipo however claimed that the leaders were not opposed to any individual who wants to contest the election.
He told newsmen “We are not opposed or averse to any individual who wants to contest for this election, everybody is free to contest the election. We are not equally opposed to the younger ones coming up but these five leaders must provide leadership that will move the freight forwarding business forward and as such, we still stand by the arrangement 6:6:1:1:1.”
Ukor whose association, AREFFN, had distanced itself from being part of the sharing arrangement during the meeting with the Ministry of Transport, said it was unfortunate such position was taken.
He said, “I came in as the founder of AREFFN, I heard what happened at that meeting and I came in here now to say that it was a mistake that they made to have taken that stand and I stand here as the founder of AREFFN to say that I am going ahead with all the associations. That the five associations have agreed but I did say that after this one, next one, Obi has become a man.”
Sources close to the independent candidates said they will not be part of any reconciliation that will deny them their legal right as provided in the CRFFN Act as far as the election is concerned.
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