NAFFAC Endorses POF Collection, Harps On Sharing Formula

By Roland Ekama, Lagos

The Nigerian Association of Air  Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC) has endorsed collection of Practitioners Operating Fee (POF) in the nation’s ports.

The air freight forwarding group urged the collecting authority not to derail from the agreed sharing formula for the regulator, declarant and associations.

Recall that the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has at a recent stakeholders meeting announced that it would commence the collection of the fee this year.

But in a statement made available to our correspondent  , by the National Executive Council of NAFFAC in Lagos on Thursday, the group said that it supports the commencement of the collection of the fee.

The President General of the association who doubles as a member of the Governing Council of CRFFN, Prince Bakare Adeyinka , called on stakeholders to support the role of the council in dealing with issues of malpractice in the port.

He also urged the regulator to increase its awareness campaign in the ports for freight forwarders, importers and exporters to always be aware of the role of the council according to the Act establishing it.

The release said in part,” That with reference  to briefs of our representative as member of the Governing Council of CRFFN, and expanded meeting of CRFFN with executive and heads of registered associations, we agree on principle the desirability of maintaining the pressure and program so far achieved by CRFFN and to encourage where need be, improvement with importers to achieve more success.

“We agree to commencement of collection of POF by CRFFN and disbursement on the agreed formula of 65 percent to CRFFN and 5 percent to the declarant and 30 percent to the associations.”

The group further applauded the council for the inauguration of Freight Forwarding Consultative Forum (FFCF) in the person of Henry Njoku, the Vice Chairman of the Governing Council.

The air freight practitioners solicited that the Council should waive all arrears of annual dues owed by members, corporate bodies, individuals and associations.