A Second Letter To Mallam Abubakar Argungu

Dear Sir,

The sad event of October 22, 2005 is one tragedy that is still fresh in our hearts. Today marks the18th years of your death while on the way to Abuja after attending the joint Postal Operations Council (POC) and Consultative Assembly (CA) Meetings of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Berne, Switzerland.

Sir, three years ago, I wrote a letter intimating you of the disturbing developments in the organisation that you dearly cherished. At that time, Dr Adebayo Adewusi was the Postmaster General after a short spell of Barrister Adegbuyi.

Since then, there has been two more changes; the person who took over from Dr Adebayo, Hon. Adepoju was also replaced by the first female Postmaster General.

These, underlines the seriousness of what has become of the office of the PMG and the fortunes of the organisation in recent years.

It is a pity to say that the efforts you and many others had put in place towards transforming NIPOST to becoming the best Postal organisation in Africa and one of the best globally have been compromised as a result of incompetence.

We recall with nostalgia on how you succeeded in earning the trust of everyone including that of the then President of the country to the extent that no Ministerial retreat was held without your presence.

The Postal sector Reform and NIPOST commercialisation Report which was presented to the government three years ago is still shrouded in secrecy.

The Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and the supervisory ministry have made us to understand that the process created three ‘stunted’ entities (three companies); A logistic, property and microfinance companies.

The BPE final report so far did not say much about the sectoral reform and the restructuring of the core operations of NIPOST.

Some of us were wondering how such a transformation of NIPOST could take place without looking at the whole sector.

A situation where NIPOST is both an operator and regulator has been an area you had wanted addressed since the beginning of the exercise.

This is in tandem with international best practices and in line with the UPU policies.

Similarly, there was little comment on reforming NIPOST itself. Creating three companies could be something good for the organisation, however, transforming the core competencies of the NIPOST is crucial to the whole exercise.

The failure to transform NIPOST has put the organisation and the sector in quagmire.

Furthermore, no enough information is coming out about legal framework upon which the sector will operate (the proposed Postal Bill have gathered much dust)

To further worsen the matter, the ministry seems to have gone ahead to implement certain aspect of the Report without getting an enabling law in place.

For example, the boards for the two created companies; Properties and Logistics) were constituted and funded without any legal backing from the National Assembly.

What is even more worrisome is the decision of the ministry to make the Postmaster General a mere member of the two boards against conventional corporate practice of relationship between subsidiary companies and main holding company.

It is disheartening to watch the slide of NIPOST from what it was some years ago to its present sorry state.

Sir, the office of Postmaster General has become a position to be shared amongst the political men and women.

Issue of competence and experience are thrown to the dogs resulting in large turnover of PMGs in last four years.

Aside from the politicisation of the office of Postmaster General, there is lack of appreciation on the part of government of the role of the Post in socio-economic development of the country.

The poor leadership situation of the organisation in recent years has led to NIPOST losing its relevance in the day-to-day activities of Nigerians.

The role of BPE in the whole process needs re-evaluation if any positive progress is to be made.

It is also disturbing to hear of an alleged compromised role of some NIPOST staff in the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement of NIPOST properties spread across the country.

Sir, the appointment of the first female Postmaster General though from the same political reward system, could make a difference.

Being young and versatile, it is our hope that she will contribute in transforming NIPOST.

As we remember you today as we always do, may the Almighty God continue grant you abode in paradise and bless the family you left behind.

Yours Always,

U. K. Musa