Crisis Rocks ANLCA as President Resigns in Protest
By Francis Ugwoke
The President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Inua Mohammed has resigned his position in the association in what appears to be the beginning of another rounds of crises in the body.
Sources close to the Association told THISDAY that Mohammed resigned in protest during the meeting of the Association in Lagos Wednesday.
In his speech made available to our Correspondent, the ANLCA President who came on board early last year resigned as a result of a number of bottled-up grievances for sometime now.
Mohammed during the Wednesday meeting highlighted some impediments which according to him have remained a clog in the wheel of the progress of the association, among them "the uncertainty surrounding the authenticity of the Constitution being paraded by the Board of Trustees of the body.
"There are allegations that the Draft Constitution which was adopted by the National Executive Council at its meeting at Sycomore Hotel, Badagry, in 1999, has been tampered with", a development which he told members to address if the Association is to move forward.
He accused the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Joki Idornigie of adopting the stand of a "policeman", "suspecting almost every official, especially within the Western Zone Arewa, and in some cases intimidating and insulting officers through his incessant letters".
He urged members of the Association to look into the composition and relevance of the Board under Idornigie, "vis-a-vis her destabilising activities".
Mohammed also protested the unilateral appointment of the western zone executive committee by the Board chairman, adding that this raises "dust and doubt as to true intentions".
"Contrary to the picture which was painted by the Board Chairman that the Committee would assist Chapter Executive and members to solve operational problems, feelers from the Chapter indicate that they are pursuing a different agenda", he told the meeting.
He further alleged,"the Committee has been busy harassing and intimidating Chapters Chairmen for money, purportedly on behalf of the National Secretariat. There are allegations that the Committee has unilaterally levied the Chapters huge sums of money, and is eargerly harassing them to pay."
He continued "added to this illegal imposition of levies, the Committee has been writitng incriminating and embarrassing letters to government agencies against some of the Chapters and the key executive officers. A case in point is on at the Seme Board Chapter. I am constrained to believe that the Committee is doing all these with the tacit support of the Board Chairman. This is based on the fact that when the Seme Border Chapter Executive reacted to the said letter by the Commitee, the Board Chairman wrote to threaten the Chatper with sanctions.".
It would be recalled that the Treasurer of the Association, Chief Denis Okafor had few months ago tactically resigned in what observers said was also in protest. Two others, including the Publicity Secretary, Prince Olayiwora Shittu were also believed to have resigned in protest.
During the meeting, he listed regular payment of staff salaries, settlement of debts, acquisition of vital office equipment, including computer units, photocopiers as part of this achievements.
He was also able to get the Customs renew 28 customs agents licences believed to have been revoked as the owners did not pursue their renewal in good time.
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