Only NIPOST can regulate courier firms, says postmaster general
By Emma Eke
ACLARIFICATION came at the weekend from the Postmaster General of the Federation (PMG), Alhaji Abubakar Arugungu, that only the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) is the authorised body to regulate the activities of courier firms in the country.
Recently, a rift developed between the courier regulatory department, an arm of NIPOST and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over which of the two agencies has the legal backing to regulate courier services.
Arugungu, while speaking on the issue said it was tackled through a "frank discussion" held between FAAN management and NIPOST during which the point was made that "as today, it is only NIPOST that is authorised by law to regulate" that sub-sector.
An official of FAAN who also confirmed this to The Guardian, added that though there has been an understanding on how to reach a common ground over the matter, there are yet to be a meeting of a tripartite committee set up to accommodate the position of the airport authority on the issue.
"We are being misunderstood on why we are charging money on them (courier firms) as to know what constitutes our charges as a body and rental charges".
According to the official, a committee set up by the government to find a lasting solution to the crisis is made up of FAAN, NIPOST and the representatives of couriers companies.
Arugungu, who was speaking on the performance of NIPOST on the first half of the year, said FAAN has the right to charge the courier companies operating at the various airports as tenants.
The row raised by the alleged extra regulation charges imposed on each of the 88 courier firms already registered to carry out services in the country nearly disrupted business activities within the airports in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt when the officials claiming to be revenue task force of FAAN threatened to clamp down on any courier company that failed to pay operation fees ranging from N500, 000 to N1 million per annum.
On the revenue performance of the postal establishment, the PMG said that the year recorded an improvement from what it used to be in the past.
His Words: "The total revenue generated from January to June stands at N1,471,147,408 as against N1,148,479,616 generated the same year last year".
The increase, according to him, showed an increase of N322.667.792 within the period.
He said the Universal Postal Union (UPU) has also adopted NIPOST mail delivery method for the sub-regional network mail transmission among the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
On plans by NIPOST to re-launch itself in the business community, Arugungu said a new logo and postman's uniform would soon be presented to the public.
