Applicants fail new PMG litmus test

Over 40 top serving and retired staff of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) have failed the litmus test for the vacant post of Postmaster General of the Federation (PMGoF), Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can report.

The office became vacant since August 2015 when Alhaji Ibrahim Mori Baba retired after eight years in the saddle.

The most senior director or deputy post-master general, Arch. Enoch Ade Ogun, a deputy Postmaster General who stepped in as acting PMG, has also retired.

Barrister Adebayo Shittu, had defended the moves to involve expatriates in the race for the new PMGoF, as part of the Ministry’s priority in revitalizing the post, to ensure that whosoever will occupy the position was equipped to face the business challenges of the 21st Century ‘post’ system.

Speaking during an official visit to Oracle Nigeria during the week, Shittu disclosed that the Ministry’s plan to transform NIPOST outlets to buoyant business centers, remains on course, as recommendation has been made to the Presidency on new PMGoF, “who is outside NIPOST; who emerged through stringent and prolonged processes.

“On assumption of office, we discovered a need to introduce some business minded people to run the Service. If we truly want to revive the NIPOST, we should be looking for business conscious individuals to run it. All we need was to advertise the position.

“Of course, we got the Presidential assent to appoint consultants to assist us in the processes, whether originally staff or NIPOST or not, they passed through same strict and diligent process to ensure that of all those who applied, the best emerged the new PMG. It’s similar the practices in the private sector where multinationals want to appoint a chief executive.

“We are serious about changing the trends in NIPOST where the outlets are presently dormant. With the level of resources accruable to NIPOST in terms of land, locations across the 774 local government in Nigeria, it ought to be a major player in the financial inclusion, internet service provider (ISP), WAEC and JAMB exams registration. The reform requires a Post Master General with understanding on new business climates and can leverage technology to deliver on the mandate,” Shittu said.

While assuring Oracle Nigeria of the Ministry’s resolve to work with stakeholders in the IT/ICT industry to reposition the post, the Minister said, “If you look at all of these, you will see that there is no human being in our society that is not impacted by the services of post because, the e-commerce, for instance, is booming and NIPOST can play profitably and add values to the system”.

The Minister who referred to ICT roadmap recently announced, said, “We are not relenting on creating jobs, connecting the unconnected areas in Nigeria and removing roadblocks to businesses in the ICT industry and establishing the first ICT University in the country.