Appointment of Uronta as Acting Registrar in Line with CRFFN Act, Says Governing Board
CHAIRMAN, CRFFN
*As Outgoing Registrar hands over to Uronta today
By Francis Ugwoke
The Governing Board of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has said that the appointment of Mrs Chinyere Uromta as Acting Registrar of the Council followed laid down provisions of the Act establishing CRFFN.
The Governing Board made the clarification in response to criticism by a freight forwarder, Mr. Chidi Opara, who had said that “at no point in the CRFFN establishment act was provision made for the position of ‘Acting Registrar’.
But the Chairman, Committee on Media and Publicity of the CRFFN Governing Council, Hon. Muftahu Ya’u, said those criticizing the appointment may not have the full details of the provisions of the CRFFN Act.
Hon. Muftahu Ya’u told Maritime Today Online that the appointment of Mrs Uronta was in line with the CRFFN Act and the Public Service Rule which allows appointment of the most senior director to fill the gap created as the tenure of the Registrar, Barr Samuel Nwakohu expires today.
According to Maritime Today Online, Muftahu Ya’u said: “Maybe they have never laid their hand on the CRFFN Act and the Public Service rule to see where the Act clearly stated that the Public Service rule should prevail in circumstances like this. Mrs Uromra is the most senior officer in the Council, so automatically she becomes the Acting Registrar. That is what the Public Service rule says. “Her appointment is not a personal decision but in line with the Act and we are here to follow due process so I don’t think that should be an issue.”
SHIPPING DAY was also told that it was not the first time CRFFN was having an Acting Registrar as the former Director, Regulations and Enforcement, Mr Basil Opara who retired recently had acted as Acting Registrar before the appointment of Mr Nwakohu.
Meanwhile, the outgoing Registrar, Nwakohu, will be handing over to the Acting Registrar, Mrs Uronta today in Lagos office.
The Governing Board of the CRFFN had directed the Registrar, Mr Nwakohu, to hand over to Mrs Uronta who until now was Director, Regulations and Enforcement.
The Board led by Rtd. Col. Tsanni Abubakar took the decision during its recent emergency meeting held in Abuja.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Chairman, Committee on Media and Publicity of the Board, Hon. Muftahu Ya”u said the Council during the meeting considered a letter from the Registrar, Nwakohu, which was a notification of the expiration of his tenure.
The communiqué said that on receiving the letter, the Chairman Governing Council, Dr. Abubakar Tsanni had to set up an Adhoc Committee to advise members on the way forward.
The Committee had recommended that the Registrar should hand over to Mrs Uronta pending the appointment of a new Registrar.
Part of the communiqué reads, “Following the completion of its assignment and submitting its report, the Council, therefore, convened today in Abuja to deliberate on next line of action in respect of the committee’s recommendations. The Adhoc committee made important recommendations with reference to the provisions of Public Service Rules as well as the Council’s Act.
“The committee, however, recommended that in order to avoid a vacuum after the expiration of the Registrar’s tenure, the Council shall start making arrangement for a handover of the Registrar’s office to the most senior management staff of the Council. Similarly, the committee also recommends that the Appointment, Promotion and Discipline committee of the Council be directed to start making preparations for reappointment or appointment of a substantive Registrar.
“Finally, the Council’s Chairman, soon after the adoption, approval and ratification of the committee’s recommendations by members of the council, directed the following: 1) Arrangements for the Registrar’s handover to Mrs. Chinyere Uromta, Director, Regulations and Enforcement on 31st of January, 2023. 2) That Committee on Appointment Promotion and Discipline go ahead to start preparations for reappointment/appointment of a new Registrar.”
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