OYETOLA VS CRFFN: Ex-NAGAFF President Calls for Restructuring, Suggests Staff Reassignment to Other Blue Economy Agencies

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Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola

By DAPO OLAWUNI

In a formal letter addressed to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Dr Eugene Nweke, a former President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called for a comprehensive restructuring of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

Dr Eugene Nweke
Dr Eugene Nweke

This is coming on the heels of a threat issued by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to go on strike, following the non-payment of CRFFN staff salaries for the past nine months.

Dr Nweke emphasized that the current state of the council is hampering its ability to function effectively as a professional regulatory body, and proposed that the majority of CRFFN staff be reassigned to other agencies within the Blue Economy Ministry.

Nweke’s letter, dated October 14, 2024, urged the Minister to take decisive action aimed at reforming the CRFFN. He noted that the council, which was originally intended to serve as an independent regulatory entity, has been burdened by administrative inefficiencies, political interference, and a bloated staff structure.

“The wrong categorization of the Council as an agency of the Ministry of Transportation, instead of an independent regulatory council, has led to its current dysfunctional state,” he said.

Highlighting key issues, Nweke pointed out that the CRFFN has been marred by over-politicization, with board positions occupied by political figures lacking the necessary professional expertise.

“Political interests have overridden professional interests, leading to the council being headed by non-core practicing professionals,” he explained.

In his submission, Nweke outlined a detailed professional framework for the CRFFN’s restructuring, which he believes will bring the council in line with global best practices in freight forwarding regulation. Drawing comparisons with successful regulatory councils worldwide, he recommended a significant reduction in both board and staff size.

“The board should consist of a maximum of 8-10 members, while the secretariat should be manned by no more than 7 staff, as opposed to the current over-bloated structure,” he proposed.

He further called for the reallocation of CRFFN staff to other agencies within the Blue Economy Ministry, suggesting that this would help streamline the council’s operations.

“In the spirit of the renewed hope mantra of the current administration, most CRFFN staff should be reassigned and absorbed by other agencies under your supervision,” Nweke wrote.

In his letter, Nweke also addressed the council’s funding model, advocating for a shift towards self-sustainability through membership fees, license fees, and partnerships with private sector stakeholders.

“The CRFFN should explore sustainable revenue generation models instead of relying solely on government allocations,” he advised.

Concluding his appeal, Nweke emphasized the urgent need for the Minister’s intervention to restore the CRFFN to its original mandate as a professional regulatory body.

“It is a professional clarion call for the honorable minister to intervene and institute administrative reforms to reposition the CRFFN for the benefit of both the profession and the nation,” he stated.

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