FG Reveals Strategy to Restructure, Modernise NIPOST

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, has launched programme of action plan on restructuring and modernising NIPOST and Strategic Plan Document Vision 2020.

Mr Shittu explained that the idea was to tackle the challenges before NIPOST which was as a result of major developments in ICT and modern means of communications; and to take advantages of this, effort would be made to create a socially, relevant economically viable and internationally  respectable post-driven entity.

He stated this during the launching of programme of action on restructuring and modernizing NIPOST and Strategic Plan Document-Vision 2020, adding that the first step in this direction would be “the enactment of the NIPOST Reform Bill presently before the National Assembly” which would address and clearly delineates critical elements of the regulatory and commercial functions of NIPOST.

The Minister, however, solicited the kind indulgence of the National Assembly for the expeditious completion of processes leading to the enactment of this and other bills awaiting enactment to reposition NIPOST.

Mr Shittu also stated that the Ministry was taking modifications further by approving a reform programme that would culminate in the formal unbundling of NIPOST’s commercial and regulatory activities into several profit-oriented, limited liability subsidiaries including –NIPOST Property and Development Company limited to take over the profitable management of all NIPOST Property nationwide; NIPOST Transport and Logistics Limited (Commercial Management of NIPOST’s Transport Fleet); NIPOST Merchandising Limited (to take advantage of the growing e-commerce sector in the country); NIPOST General Services and Support Company Limited (a social inclusion and public engagement company offering e-govt and other franchise); and NIPOST Digital Financial Services Limited (the ‘Post Bank’ that would offer financial inclusion services as a Mobile Money Operator licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria).

The Minister disclosed that even with the unbundling of NIPOST, the original functions of Postal and Courier Services would continue to reside in NIPOST and that the Postmaster General would assume the role of Group Chief Executive Officer supervising the CEOs of these subsidiaries each of which would have Boards of Directors and appropriate corporate governance structures to energise this process.

Mr Shittu also inaugurated the NIPOST Modernisation Steering Committee headed by–the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Arc. Sonny Echono (Chairman), others are  Postmaster General, Asiwaju Adebisi Adegbuyi (Vice Chairman), Special Adviser to the Minister of Communications on Digital Resources optimization, Mr Akin Yusuf (Member/Secretary), also included in the committee are Director, Telecoms and Postal Services, Mrs Ngozi Ogujiofor; Director, ICT, Mrs Moni Udoh; Special Assistant to the Minister on NIPOST, Mr Okechukwu Igwe and two representatives from NIPOST, and one representative each from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

Speaking earlier, the Postmaster-General (PMG), Mr Bisi Adegbuyi commended the minister and the National Assembly for working tirelessly to ensure the Restructuring and Modernization of NIPOST.

He said the Restructuring and Modernization would strengthen and reposition NIPOST to be able to provide Nigerians with a solid platform for integration, innovation and inclusion.