15% Vehicle Levy: Ports Clearing Agents Shelve Strike

Members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Clearing Agents (ANLCA) has described as faceless members of the group agitating to embark on an industrial strike.

The Public Relations Officer of ANLCA at Tin-Can Island, Comrade Onome Monije, stated this on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.

Naija News understands that reports had emerged alleging that port members are threatening to go on strike.

The industrial action was expected to commence on Monday (yesterday).

It was, however, confirmed on Tuesday that the proposed action has been shelved.

The port agents were reportedly protesting the implementation of the 15 per cent National Automotive Council (NAC) levy by the Nigeria Customs Service from April 9.

In a lighter mode on Monday, one of the agents, James Uzor, while addressing a press said the amount agents would have incurred as demurrage would have been colossal considering the long holiday

“Those who have consignments to clear at the seaports have only Monday and Tuesday to do so. Failure of which would attract a humongous amount as demurrage. The move would have been counterproductive which would have backfired in the end,” he said.

Also speaking, the taskforce chairman of ANLCA at Tin Can Island Port, Alhaji Rilwan Amuni said: “We decided to hold on to the strike action because of the burden on our members, we found out that this is the only week that we have before the Sallah and May Day break, we don’t want much burden for our members.

“However, the Ministry of Finance has been evasive, if not for the long holidays ahead, our strike action would have been held.”

ANLCA PRO at Tin-Can Island reiterated that there was not going to be any strike.

He said those clamouring for the strike are faceless, adding that their leaders are holding talks with the Customs management team on how best to resolve the issue.