Govt targets NIPOST repositioning to boost financial inclusion
THE Federal Government has said that if the current effort to reposition the Postal sector in Nigeria is sustained, the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) would be able to not only provide financial inclusion to the citizenry but also absorb a greater number of youths in its workforce
Meanwhile, contract has been awarded for the upgrade of all Information and Communications Technology (ICT) backbone infrastructure at the International Mail Processing Centre Ikeja-Lagos to enable NIPOST deploy the latest version of IPS and IFS in compliance with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) directives
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Dr Tunde Olaopa, who stated this at an event to mark World Post Day in Abuja, noted that postal network’s financial, electronic and physical dimensions can contribute significantly to socio-economic development, job creation and poverty reduction as contained in the postal reform programmes.
He observed that the rapidly changing nature of traditional mail business, the advent of digital economy as well as the navigation of consumers among multiple channels to communicate are key factors that are changing the way postal business is conducted, hence the need for innovation for business survival.
Olaopa observed that government is already engaged in the reform process of the postal sector adding that the National Postal Commission Bill which has been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC would be the guiding tools for the operation of the sector.
He stated that NIPOST, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other stakeholders are working on NIPOST financial inclusion project and that a Financial Adviser has been appointed to guide the selection of a suitable partner for NIPOST.
Also speaking, the Acting Post Master General of NIPOST, Enoch Ade Ogun, stated that all over the world, the Post office has changed from a place of posting letters to communication centres where various services are provided adding that the existence of Post office in all nooks and crannies of the country places NIPOST at an advantage over other organizations in Nigeria.
He said that improvement of quality of service would be top priority of the present NIPOST management, stressing that it is now a priority of the agency to ensure 24 hours delivery of intra-city mail, 48hrs for inter-state mail and 72 hours for nationwide.
Ogun noted that security challenges occasioned by terrorism across the globe have created the need for most postal administrations to ensure that letters and parcels are not just delivered to customers without ascertaining their safety nature, pointing out that NIPOST has intensified its collaboration with the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Customs Service and the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom.
According to him, Security operatives at the International Mail Processing Centre Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 400 scam letters containing negotiable financial instruments valued at N4.3billion.
However, he called on the lawmaker to pass into law, the National Critical Infrastructure bill. The passage which he said would protect the telecom infrastructure and will put the problem to rest.
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1 Comments
how about you first improve on your main mandate, which is to deliver package and mail. then you can begin to generate enough revenue to expand your services and reach to rural parts of the country. post office should be the administrative center for small business, where they can send package, create signs, print and create document along with many more things.
We will review and take appropriate action.