As Pantami Says NIPOST Unbundling Has Reached Advanced Stage
By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
ABUJA: As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2020 World Post Day, the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) on Friday, October 9, 2020, launched 100 years compendium of Nigeria Postage Stamps from 1914- 2014.
The celebration also marked the 146th anniversary of the creation of the Universal Postal Union—a specialized agency of the United Nations founded on October 9, 1874.
Speaking during the unveiling and launching of the compendium, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), noted that the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) which had higher challenges than any other parastatals when he assumed office, is in the process of being transformed.
He announced that he has approved three subsidiaries under NIPOST which are— NIPOST Transport and Logistics Company, NIPOST Property and Development Company, and the NIPOST Microfinance Bank, adding that they have reached an advanced stage of unbundling the NIPOST, as two of the companies have been registered.
While noting that it is against global best practices for NIPOST to be both a regulator and operator, he added that they are working on a NIPOST Reform Bill which will separate the Regulator and Operator, and appealed to the National Assembly to support them in getting the bill, which will make NIPOST more effective.
The Minister who expressed hopes that in the next one year there will be tremendous successes in the process of NIPOST transformation, added that for NIPOST to be relevant, after the unbundling, they will start the process of automating some of the most important activities of NIPOST in line with the digital economy mandate of the administration.
Addressing the issues of stamp duty collection, the Minister noted that the bill was initiated by NIPOST and not by any other institutions.
“It was taken to the National Assembly by NIPOST and was endorsed by the Minister of Finance that NIPOST should collect stamp duties but when NIPOST started the process, other tax collectors discovered that this stamp duty is something special and along the process, they went somewhere and hijacked it and less than 24 hours before the final decision was made, the name of NIPOST was substituted.
“I wrote a letter to Mr. President over five times and I have written a letter to the minister of finance three times as well as the CBN Governor. We will continue to fight for the oppressed. I hate injustice and will always fight for the oppressed. I assure you we will fight for you legally and by following due process. That legal war won’t end until Justice is done”, he emphasized.
While unveiling the compendium, he said, “I officially launch the compendium and I pray God will make the compendium beneficial to humanity and specifically our fellow Nigerians”.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, Senator Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, commended the PMG for making the event a reality, adding that the theme “More than Mail”, is very important.
She further noted that NIPOST has evolved and with technological advancement there is the need to reform the agency’s mode of operation, keep up with the time to ensure quicker and efficient service delivery, and to devise means to have an efficient NIPOST that prioritizes service delivery.
She expressed confidence that NIPOST won’t relent in contributing to the development of the nation, adding that the Senate is committed in providing legislative support where necessary.
For his part, the Postmaster General, Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, stated that the World Post Day represents an excellent opportunity for postal authorities in all countries of the world to educate government officials and the public on the important and invaluable contributions which Postal services make in the socio-economic development of nations.
According to him, “To underscore that the Post continues to serve as an essential instrument of economic and social development in Nigeria, the Federal Government has embarked on a comprehensive reform of the Postal Sector to make it responsive to customers’ demands through provision of high quality and affordable universal postal service to the citizenry.
“It is imperative to state here, that the Posts globally are not left out and have faced the biggest upheavals in 2020 since second world war occasioned by the Coronavirus Pandemic but Postal Operations have equally shown great resilience by changing their modes of operations, in order to meet the needs of customers during the ongoing storms”.
He further said that the, “NIPOST reform program engendered a new vision and mission statement for the organization, which is to provide: “a thriving market-driven organization focusing on innovation” and the commitment “To provide efficient, effective and reliable services with the aid of appropriate technology and a well-motivated workforce”. The reform no doubt has brought positive changes in our operations”.
He listed the measures that have been taken to improve the quality of service delivery to include; Strengthening of Operatives in the Mail Delivery Services, Mail Security and the Fight Against Scam Mail, Quality of Mail Service Test, Introduction of Financial Services in the Post, Revenue, Staff Promotion/Review of Conditions of Service.
He reiterated the commitment of NIPOST Management in ensuring the success of Government’s Reform effort of the Postal Industry, especially the unbundling of the organization into strategic companies which he said, would not only create job opportunities for Nigerians but would equally provide more revenue to the government to enable it carry out its functions effectively.
