Time to Wake ‘Sleeping Giant’ NIPOST- Shittu

Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, has said that the appointment of Barrister Bisi Adegbuyi as new postmaster general and CEO, Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), will pay off, as the Ministry has, in the last seven months, told the world the new direction it intends to chart towards re-awakening NIPOST, “which I call the sleeping giant) -and re-position it not just to become one of the elite parastatals of government but a world class business conglomerate of all time”.

Shittu made the remark at the inauguration of the new post master general/chief executive officer (NIPOST), at the Service’s headquarters, Abuja on Friday.

He said that there was no iota of doubt that the agency has immense potential to contribute substantially not only towards the country’s revenue generation but the overall revival and perpetual sustainability of the Nigerian economy.

“We know that a reformed and commercialized NIPOST can play a key role in helping our Government of change to achieve its cardinal objectives. These include service delivery, both government to citizens’ services and citizen to citizens’ services through the adoption of cutting edge technology as well as financial inclusion services to alleviate poverty, create wealth and substantially generate employment for our teeming youth nationwide.

“I must let you know that you are stepping into an office that requires a lot of work to meet up with the reform promises we have made to Nigerians. Let me also emphasize that this assignment requires deep thinking, radical ideas and team work to  attain a rapid turn-around and  give us a modern, responsive and efficient NIPOST that will be a pride not only to our dear President  but the entire Nigeria citizenry.  I have no doubt that, with your sterling accomplishments both in the legal profession and the business world, you are capable of delivering the expected outcomes that will add real value to the Nigerian Society.
 
“Some very basic issues in this sector might interest you. First, the Nigerian Postal Service Act of 1992 gives exclusive rights of mail handling to NIPOST for all postal articles below 500 grams.

“However, today NIPOST is contending with stiff competition from private operators.  I understand there are more than 200 courier companies legally licensed and many more illegally operators active in the postal sector.

“These companies are competing with NIPOST in various aspects of the postal market: not only in the market for courier items but also in the letter and parcel market; e-commerce and other counter and financial services and have effectively eroded the revenue accruable to NIPOST,” he said.