ANLCA inching towards peace as warring factions adopt Customs Committee resolution, to hold election August

There is likely a light at the end of the tunnel for the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) as the two warring factions have agreed to work with the resolution of the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC) to resolve the protracted leadership crisis in the association.

The seven-man Committee chaired by Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju at a meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Wednesday with representatives from both factions and other top industry stakeholders mutually resolved to extend the tenure of the ANLCA National Executive Committee (NECOM) led by Kayode Farinto by two weeks after which the Board takes over the administration of the association.

The Peace Accord meeting also resolved that the Board work with the already constituted Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) to conduct elections before the end of August.

In a statement by the committee signed by the Peace Accord Secretary, Dr. Eugene Nweke, both factions also agreed to work with the 2013 constitution of the association while all pending court cases be withdrawn.

Other decisions taken at the meeting include the following:

“Members of the presently constituted ASECO should continue in office subject to confirmation by the CCC that all members of the commission hold valid licenses.

“The Board of Trustees as presently constituted by the CRFFN meeting should continue in office subject to the verification of the members licenses by the CCC pending the election of a new Board by ASECO within the earliest possible time.

“ASECO should conduct a new NECOM election within one month from the date of this meeting, 19th of July 2023.

“A Press release be jointly signed by the chairman and the vice chairman of the Board of the Association to the effect that an agreement has been reached on the present NECOM to round up in the next two weeks after which it will hand over the affairs of the Association to the Board while ASECO concludes the election within four weeks from today the 19TH of July 2023.

“There should be an internal redress mechanism to be used by members before recourse to court or any external body.

“All pending court cases be withdrawn forthwith and the Association be given an opportunity to address the issues internally.

“The licenses of BOT members and ASECO as presently constituted should be verified by the CCC within one week from the date of this meeting being 19th July 2023.

“It was unanimously agreed that all in attendance sign and endorse this resolution in the order of recorded attendance.”

Members of the 7-man Committee are: DCG Austen Warikoru, ACG Liman Bello (Rtd), Mrs CFO Ezenwa, CAC Dimka Victor Rtd, Alh. Inua Mohammed, Dr Eugene Nweke (Secretary).

Other industry stakeholders present at the meeting include Barr. Hassan Bello, Chief Peter Okocha, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Sir. Ernest Elochukwu, Eze Amb. Damian Obianigwe and Chief Oye Ariyo among others.