The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), in an emergency National Executive Council Meeting (NECOM) held at Marriot Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos on Wednesday came to the decision of expelling members that has been working against the interest of the association since the present NECOM and leadership of the association took over office.
The meeting which is the highest organ of the association was held to address fiscal and monetary policies of the government as it affects the association, personal issues, financial issues, operational issues, disciplinary committee report among others.
Members at the NECOM meeting was of mixed reactions and contrary opinion as against the disciplinary committee recommendation to suspend the erring members for 4 years as stated within the association’s constitution.
Some are of the opinion that the magnitude of their offence should not be pardoned in order to guide against future attacks and anti-association activities , hence, voting
against the committee’s recommendation because they believe that faulted members have acted and stepped beyond the line and suspending them was not enough sanction.
A resolution was reached after much deliberation and put to vote for transparency sake.
At the end of the voting exercise, seven (7) members opted for suspension while fourth two (42) members voted in support of expulsion, since majority carries the vote, this leads to expelling of the former National President of the association, Chief Ernest Elochukwu and his company, Nestilo Nigeria Ltd.
Other members suspended are Sir John Oforbike and his company DENCA Services Ltd; Mr. Temitope Akindele of Great Star Line Nigeria Ltd; Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha of Pyramid Nigeria Ltd; Prince Taiye Oyeniyi of Mackmany Nigeria Ltd; Mr. Joe Sanni of Multimodal Logistics Ltd; Mr. Gideon Nwagbaraocha and his company among others.
Speaking at the NEC meeting, the National president, Hon. Tony Iju Nwabunike hinted that the decision of the council is final being the highest decision making body of the association.
While speaking on government policies, Nwabunike expressed displeasure towards the quick implementation of new Customs exchange rate, stating that it will negatively affect trade and members of the association.
He frowned at the incessant federal government’s pattern of changing exchange rate through Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), lamenting that the quick implementation of new Customs exchange rate won’t work as supposed because it takes a minimum of 90 days from opening Form M to the arrival of vessel at the port.
He hinted that the time frame between opening Form M and the arrival of vessel should clearly shows why the federal government ought not to do an immediate exchange rate implementation but rather give a timeline of at least five months.
According to him, the process would have been seamless if port stakeholders, especially freight agents were carried along in order for them to notify the authorities about the actual reality and how such policy affects trade.
He however announced the new Board of Trustees (BOT) with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi as chairman and Prince Ozo Chukwura as his vice.
Meanwhile, in an interview with new men after the NEC meeting, Prince Ozo Chukwura revealed that since he has been a member of ANLCA, he had made quite a number of board members and this won’t be different.
He added that the board will act as the father of the association, as custodian of the association’s properties and ensure litigation brought against the association is resolved amicably.
He assured ‘Anytime there’s disparity among members, the board will come together to ensure peace reign. I’ve been part and parcel of negotiating team for years and in my little capacity, I’ve participated in a number of conflict resolution and achieve a number of success. We’re not the running the daily activities of the association but we’re going to give NECOM our full support.”
“The role of the board is to keep peace and bridge the gap in the association. Even those that are expelled if they ask for forgiveness to come back to the association with sincerity of purpose, as fathers of association we’ll appeal to NECOM as fathers of association to look into their case once more,” he quipped.
