Trouble Looms In Nigerian Ports, As CBN E-invoice Policy Causes Strike Action

Trouble Looms In the Nigerian Ports sector, As the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN E-invoice Policy has Caused Strike Action among workers.

Brand News Day Nigeria gathers that the CBN’s implementation of the e-evaluation and e-invoice policy has caused major problems in ports.

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Port activities at Tin-Can Island and the Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML) have been grounded, following the withdrawal of services by agents and freight forwarders working at the two ports.

Trouble Looms In Nigerian Ports, As CBN E-invoice Policy Causes Strike Action

According to reports, the agents have sworn that, if their demands are not met, they will expand the strike to all of Lagos State’s ports, including Apapa and the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal.

The apex bank had in a circular to all authorised dealers and the general public announced the introduction of e-invoicing for all imports and exports in the country, effective February 1, 2022.

READ: Customs TinCan Island Port Alone Generates N493.75bn In 2021

It was reported that the Nigerian House of Representatives had asked the CBN to halt the implementation of the policy. This was prompted following the adoption of a motion moved by Honourable Leke Abejide (APC, Kogi)

The central bank however refused to communicate a new date and went on to implement the new policy. Hence, freight forwarders operating at both the Tin-Can Island and PTML last week gave the authority 72 hours to address the technical glitches facing the newly introduced e-valuation system or face industrial action.

In what appears like a follow-up to their earlier threat, the aggrieved freight forwarders on Monday commenced the withdrawal of their services till further notice.

Nigerian Ports: PTML – Tin-Can Island

Speaking on the development, Sunny Ugorji, the Assistant Secretary, PTML Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, stated that the agents were not against the platform but the implementation process.

Ugorji said the implementation showed the officers of the Nigerian Customs Service had increased the duties on imported cars without the notice of the agents.

According to Ugorji, “We only withdrew our services because of the e-valuation, there is no work; we have withdrawn our services until they correct the e-valuation system. We are not against e-valuation, what we are against is the implementation of the platform. The implementation is indicating that the Nigeria Customs Service has increased duties without informing us. I don’t see why when they say e-valuation; it simply means we are going to observe port operations with no much interface which is good”

He added, “We have succeeded in withdrawing our services both at the PTML Command and Tin-Can. By tomorrow (Tuesday) we are going to Apapa. On Wednesday, we are going to KLT to make sure  we all speak with one voice.”

The Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, PTML chapter, George Okafor, said, “We just withdrew our services; all the agents have withdrawn their services at PTML. Our attention was only at PTML but it has now extended to Tin-Can. We are on it until the government speaks to us. We gave the Customs Controller-General 72 hours to talk to us but until now, he hasn’t done that. So we are withdrawing our services until the Customs talk to us.”

Muhammad Yakubu, the Public Relations Officer of the PTML Command, NCS, acknowledged the discontinuation of service, noting that the command was just executing the government’s e-valuation policy.

He said, “They have been on strike since we came to the office. I keep on telling them that this thing is beyond us (Customs), it is a Federal Government policy and we are just here to implement the policy. They should talk to the Federal Government.”

The PRO, Tin-Can Island Command, NCS, Uche Ejesieme, advised the protesters to act within the ambit of the laws.

What is the CBN e-evaluator and e-Invoice?

• To replace hard copy final invoices as part of the documentation necessary for all import and export transactions, the e-evaluator and e-Invoice were introduced.
• Imports and exports having unit prices greater than 2.5% of verified global checkmate prices will be investigated and will not be allowed to complete Form M or Form NXP successfully.
• Unless the electronic invoice has been authenticated by Authorised Dealer Banks and the relevant payment documentation has been provided, no importer/exporter may make a payment to a foreign supplier’s credit.