By Michael Peter, The Sight News
Abuja: In a bid to ensure the continual relevance of the Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST in a changing world, the Federal Government on Thursday formally inaugurated the Steering Committee for the Postal Sector Reforms and Restructuring/Modernisation of the NIPOST.
Also Inaugurated is the Project Delivery Team, PDT for the reform to act as the Secretariat for the Steering Committee.
Speaking while inaugurating the Committee and the Project Delivery Team in Abuja, the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, who also Chairs the committee, disclosed that Government has also approved a partial privatization of NIPOST.
He however, pointed out that some of NIPOST’s services would still reflect policies and economic intervention from government.
“The old postal operations have rendered NIPOST commercially unappealing and unviable. Our challenge today is to evolve new creative ways to keep NIPOST alive. For this reason government has approved that NIPOST be partially commercialized in keeping faith with the Second Schedule Part 1, Section 6(1) of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act, 1999”.
Barrister Shittu further stated that the Committee is expected to take postal services in Nigeria to a new height in the face of the global challenge posed by new technology.
Expressing optimism in the ability of members of the Committee to deliver effectively on their task, the Minister urged them to consider the assignment as a critical national assignment that requires unflinching commitment and zeal.
While acknowledging ongoing efforts by the Post Master General to reposition NIPOST to respond to global exigencies, Barrister Shittu also expressed confidence that the reform- steps being taken will give a greater impetus to the modernization agenda of his Ministry.
The Committee comprises of key stakeholders, Ministries, Departments and Parastatals, the Labour Union and Postal Consultants.
Earlier in his remark, the Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE, Mr Alex A. Okoh listed the mandates of the Steering Committee to include; “Review and study of reports prepared by the Project Delivery Team, PDT for recommendation to the National Council on Privatisation, NCP; Advising the NCP on standards required to ensure quality mail service delivery across all levels of government; Receiving, reviewing and incorporating presentations from relevant stakeholders in the sector and carrying out other functions related to the reforms of the Nigeria Postal Sector, especially the restructuring and modernisation of NIPOST as may be directed by NCP from time to time”.
While expressing gratitude for the Minister’s show of resolve towards transforming NIPOST, the Post Master-General of the Federation, Mr Adebisi Adegbusi, who was represented by the Director of Human Resources, NIPOST, Mr Bashir Mamudu, in his speech pledged his commitment to the reforms.
