SSANIPOST

A bill for an Act to provide for the operation and development of postal services.

In a bid to obtain necessary inputs from stakeholders in the postal industry regarding the bill which had been referred to the House Committee on Communications for further legislative action, hence, the public hearing at the Conference Room, House of Representatives, Abuja. 

A public hearing was held at the Conference Room, House of Representatives, at the nation’s capital city of Abuja late 2009.

The public hearing, which was organized by House Committee on Communications, obtain inputs from all stakeholders in the postal industry towards the final preparation for a law to provide for the operation and development of Postal Services, and the establishment of the Nigerian Postal Commission.

 Prior to the public hearing, the House of Representative had concluded a debate on the general principles of the bill and referred it to the Committee on Communications for further legislative action.

 At the commencement of the public hearing, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Dave Salako said “This Bill when passed into law will seek to repeal the existing NIPOST ACT of 1996, with some innovations that include a Commission that will serve as a regulator for all courier service providers. Hence, there will be a level playing field for all Operators and employment opportunities for Nigerians. It will also generate more money for the Federal Government and a more secured postal services to mention but a few.

Further more, Hon. Salako remarked that the forum “will go down in the history of Nigeria as we shall do all we can to reform our postal system in line with the practice the world over”. He therefore enjoined every stakeholder to support the Bill and work towards its success”.

The stakeholders present at the public hearing include – The Nigerian Postal Service, Nigerian International Air Courier Association, Association of Nigerian Courier Operators, and other concerned citizens. At the end of the interactive session, the stakeholders called for more time to study the draft bill and make necessary inputs towards having an acceptable law. This was welcomed by the Committee with a provision that all stakeholders must submit their inputs within two weeks. While contributing at the forum, a concerned citizen – Barrister Alozie Nwoke spoke on the need to abide by the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) convention. He called on Nigeria to learn from the experience of other nations in reforming the postal industry including the setting up of a postal commission as it operates in countries such as South Africa, United States of America and Kenya.