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NIPOST Staff Jittery over Shittu’s Proposed Reforms

By Peter Ugwu
19 February 2016   |   1:50 am
MR. Adeabyo Shittu, minister of Communications’ steps to reform the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) is not going down well with some top management staff of the Service.
 Adebayo Shittu (Communication Minister)

Adebayo Shittu (Communication Minister)

MR. Adeabyo Shittu, minister of Communications’ steps to reform the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) is not going down well with some top management staff of the Service.

Shittu, a lawyer, while speaking with journalist in Lagos on the aftermath of recent two-day ICT retreat held in Ibadan, Oyo State, disclosed the ministry’s resolve, to inject fresh impetus into NIPOST’s operation.

Top on the reform agenda was the recruitment process for a substantive Postmaster General of the Federal, whom Shittu said, “will be prepared to face the business challenge of revitalizing the post offices”.

According to the Minister, “After the appointment, the new posts, we are looking at having call centres as part of the business; banks, internet service providers (ISPs), etc., to help boost the fortunes of the post.

But, a source at NIPOST headquarters Abuja told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that the Minister ought to have secured the Federal Executive Council backing to purse the passage of the NIPOST Reform Bill which has been with the National Assembly since 2004.

“We pray that the National Assembly holds public hearing on the Postal Reform Bill, because it will help to set the record straight on so many indices concerning the post in Nigeria. For instance, there is no Federal Parastatal in Nigeria that the post of the Director-General is advertised. Why NIPOST? Does the NIPOST Act support the moves?

“It is quite discouraging for one who have climbed the cadre, right from the scratch. To add insult to injury, ‘outsiders’ are submitting application for the post of postmaster general. NIPOST is technical and business oriented and needs someone with the nitty-gritty of the operations to lead the cause. NIPOST goes beyond posting letters as there are ventures in NIPOST headed by NIPOST staff. Government has not been sincere with NIPOST reforms all the years and the workers should not be made the scapegoats”.

When reminded that Minister Communications made it clear that the intent was to inject fresh impetus to NIPOST operations and being about buoyant post in the country, the Source reaffirmed that current NIPOST Act will form a huge stumbling block to the Minister unless repealed.

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