Confusion Trails Postal Reform Bill

Postal sector reform process which will culminate with the setting up of an independent regulator for the industry is embroiled in a web of confusion with some vested interest bent on thwarting the reform, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now report.

Multinational courier firms and some top management of Nigerian Postal Service (Nipost) are allegedly working to frustrate the process.

Multinational courier firms fear it would not be business as usual with a strong regulatory commission while some top officers of Nipost fret over erosion of influence and positions of authority.

A source which did not want to be named accused the interests of lobbying the National Assembly to stall the passage of the bill.

At present, most industry stakeholders cannot categorically tell the content and location of the all important document that will breathe fresh life into the sector.

Although the National Council on Privatisation has stripped  Nipost of all its regulatory function, there are still some human elements which constituted clogs in the wheels of the process.

A source close to Nipost said, “most of them enjoy the present regulatory-player status of Nipost, because of kick backs they receive. Nipost rakes in about N1.3 billion annually, but Federal Government may not be aware of that. Has anyone wondered why Postal Bill is not receiving accelerated hearing and passage at the National Assembly? “

Omobola Johnson, minister of Communications Technology had journalists after the council meeting presided over by Namadi Sambo, vice president, recently that the key factor in the bill is that Nipost should concentrate on its operational functions.

But  Mallam Ibrahim Mori-Baba, the postmaster-general of the Federation,  had at a different forum, welcomed an independent postal regulatory commission.

Mori-Baba said such Commission was necessary so that Nipost  and other courier companies in the country could be monitored and regulated.

“For now we just register them, (Courier companies) and then monitor to see some of the basic things they shouldn’t do, and that is why we have been clamouring for an independent postal commission so that we too will be part of that regulation because for now we can’t be the referee and then be the footballer” he added.