By Emmanuel Elebeke

SInce the advent of Information and communications Technology, ICT, the impact on the Nigerian Postal Services Nipost, has not been favourable as the fortunes has continued to nosedive, as a result of huge apathy from the customers towards post services. Apart from the need for a total revamping of the Post occasioned by this development, experts have shared the view   on the need for the establishment of a National Postal Commission (NPC) to engender proper regulation of the industry and at the same time check the excesses of the independent courier companies operating in the country.

According to the immediate past Post Master General of the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST), Mallam Mori Baba, there is urgent need for a National Postal Commission, which will steer the regulatory role of the industry, including the NIPOST.

Baba, who spoke in an NTA   interview The Focus said the benefits inherent in establishing the NPC is huge, giving that it will afford the Post the opportunity to reposition and expand its infrastructure and compete positively in the larger market with greater returns for proper operation of the system.

Consequently, Mori Baba said passing into the law the pending Postal amendment bill with the National Assembly would not only address the lacuna in the existing Act but incorporate the Commission.       “We need a new bill on NIPOST. My prayer is there should be a National Postal Commission, which will regulate the industry including the NIPOST. The benefits are huge for NIPOST.

“If the existing Act is amended to accommodate the new thinking. It should be a national operator recognized by government. There should be NPC that will regulate the entire postal service, including the Nipost.

Postalservice

“The benefits are huge, if the Act is amended. But my fear is that there will be too much regulators in the telecom sector. The new commission should be able to put in place what is required to make the industry come alive and be more robust. “Recall that a NIPOST Amendment bill was sent to 6th and 7th Assemblies, they did the first reading and nothing happened. It is our candid hope that something will happen in the 8th Assembly to get it passed.

“With this anticipated law, NIPOST will be like courier company and so will have nothing to do with courier companies. The Commission is going to be an independent body that will regulate the industry including the NIPOST.