SSANIPOST

LABOUR STANDS

LABOUR AND THE PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF NIPOST

Labour critically observed the study on the Nigerian Postal System by the Netherpost Consultancy and the Proposals on the Nigerian Postal Sector Bill which emerged from it  and wrote the Director General of BPE stating there view as follows:

1. We want to point out for now that inspite of the ill advised exclusion of organized Labour in your work on the Nigerian Postal System so far, the ideas of an independent industry regulator and a NIPOST with the sole duty as a universal postal operator are acceptable.
2. Beyond these findings, we wish to advise caution in put6ting in place these roles giving your usual role of acting to meet deadlines only especially as the study pointed out that European Union countries with similar projects inspite of their level of infrastructure have planned their completion in phases lasting between 15 and 20 years.
3. There is still need as explained in the study for Government total commitment towards promoting the acceptability of postal services through better transportation system and use of coding for destinations among others.
4. Within NIPOST itself, it clarifies that the development of infrastructure and manpower call for are necessary investments to enable it perform efficiently and withstand competition in a liberalized market.
5. Further still the level of investments including a performance bond to be put in place with its management must be accomplished before the phased materialization of NIPOST from a parastatal fully sub-vented by Government to a profit making limited company.
6. We implore you to take immediate steps to set up the body of stakeholders including organized labour to put in place the above plans immediately. This is important as we have all noted the futility of conclusions drawn without the necessary parties in the past.
7. Finally, as organized Labour, we have put in place a Committee to study all work so far done on the Postal sector with the aim of making our recommendations at all future parleys involving stakeholders.