THE Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, on Monday, in Abuja said the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) is on the verge of becoming the life-wire of the nation’s economy, if the National Assembly passed the NIPOST Reform Act and the President signs it into law.
Barr. Shittu, who appreciated the efforts of the legislative arm, especially members of the Communications Committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives, for their inputs in the Reform process, urged the lawmakers to expedite action in the processing of the Act so that the transformation drive of the nation’s postal flagship could begin in earnest.
He said the appointment of Barrister Bisi Adeguyi as Post Master General of the Federation from the private sector was informed by the realization of the Buhari’s administration that NIPOST could serve as the life-wire of every social and economic activities of Nigeria.
The minister, who spoke at the launching of new innovative and game changing products by NIPOST in commemoration of the 2017 World Post Day held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, said the reformation process, will unbundled NIPOST and make it a conglomerate that will provide various money-spinning services, which according to him, include financial services in about 1,500 postal establishments across the country.
Others services, according to Shittu, include e-commerce services through which NIPOST can process, procure and renew international passports for Nigerians irrespective of their locations; developing NIPOST expanse of landed property across nooks and crannies of Niger into housing estates, shopping complexes and malls; as well as a dependable transport service for haul-aging of goods and products.
The Post Master General, Barrister Adegbuyi said the newly introduced products which include; International Postal System 2015 Track and Trace; QuBit Electronic Stamp, Electronic Money Order, Electronic Mail Box and Address Verification System (what3words); “will change the landscape of postal services in Nigeria in line with global best practices”.
He said the need for these innovative products arose from experiences he has gathered in his one year in office as the chief executive officer of NIPOST, stressing that he has been able to identify challenges, weaknesses and opportunities to be tapped to make the organization business-oriented and consumer-centered public institution.
Adegbuyi gave kudos to President Buhari for acknowledging the importance of the private sector in transforming public institutions in the country in line with the Change Agenda of his administration.
He appreciated the President for bringing back hope to the postal system while commending the Communications Minister for cooperating with the management of NIPOST.
He, therefore, prayed for the required political will and supports from the executive and the legislative arms of government in concluding the postal reformation by passing the Act and subsequently signing the resultant Act into law by the President.
By this, he said, Nigeria will be the first in Africa to have such reformation.
“There is no looking back in the journey of transformation. We are going to subscribe to globally acceptable best practices with more satisfied customers. Stronger market with philosophy of innovation, integration and inclusion”, he said.
In a message sent to commemorate the day, the Director-General, Universal Postal Union (UPU), Bishar Hussein, said the World Post Day is to raise awareness of the Post’s role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.
He said the postal sector is an enabler of inclusive development and an essential component of the global economy being a key platform in delivering public services.
Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Senator Yahaya, the co-sponsor of NIPOST Reform Act, Communications Committee members in the National Assembly; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Chief Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, representative of Osun State governor; military chiefs and heads of government agencies as well as investors graced the occasion.
