LCCI Charges FG to Check NIPOST Regulations

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on the federal government to save the Nigerian courier industry by taking away some provisions in the recently published regulatory guidelines, which were introduced by the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST).

The chamber stated that the federal government should remove certain provisions in the courier guidelines, one of which required operators of courier and logistics services to contribute two per cent of their annual revenue to the postal fund.

The fund had been put in place for postal development and delivery of postal services in rural and underserved areas.

In a statement issued by the Director-General of the LCCI, Mr Muda Yusuf, titled NIPOST regulatory provisions for courier industry, the group also called on the government to remedy the framework that allowed the NIPOST to be both a regulator and an operator.

The LCCI, in the letter to the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Patami, explained that the particular framework was detrimental to the development of the courier business, adding that it was also inconsistent with global best practice principles of business regulations.

Pointing out some other problems with the policy, the chamber said its negative consequence had manifested in the provision in the courier regulation that “all courier items/articles such as right issues, shares certificates, statement of accounts, cheques, letters or offer documents, etc., weighing below 0.5 kilogrammes brought to a courier/logistics service operator shall be recorded and referred to the nearest post office of the NIPOST for processing and delivery.”

“Failure to do so will attract payment to NIPOST of a penalty of 90 per cent of the amount charged on the item by the erring operator,” LCCI added.

“The chamber added that another provision in the courier regulation, which vested the minister with powers to compel any licensed courier and logistics services operator to undertake free delivery service for the purpose of Universal Postal Service’s obligations or any social service delivery in the national interest needs to be reviewed because it “borders on overbearing powers with little regard for the interest of investors,” it further stated.

It added that these provisions would undermine the confidence of investors in the courier and logistics business in the country and negate the efforts of the federal government to attract investment, create jobs and grow the economy.