NIPOST loses N3bn annually to non-completion of training institute
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Simon Emeje, director-general, Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), said the country loses about N3 billion annually to the non-completion of its training institute in Benin-City, Edo State.
Emeje made the disclosure when Maimuna Yahaya Abubakar, chairperson, governing council of the agency, led other board members on an inspection tour of the institute in Benin-City recently.
Abubakar called on the Edo State House Assembly to help the service in recovering the debt owed it by the state government.
Emeje said the institute needs infrastructure to function effectively, as most of the facilities started 20 years ago were not completed
“We want to make the institute not just a training institute but a degree awarding institution and also have ancillary services for revenue generation.
“The institute has not generated money before the coming of the current management, and if it is fully completed, it is capable of generating N3 billion yearly,” he said.
In her remark, Maimuna Yahaya Abubakar, chairperson of the agency, said the inspection was geared towards knowing the state of NIPOST, condition of infrastructure and condition of staff before taking a decision.
Abubakar said the board would revisit the issue of contract awarded that were not executed, issues of consultancy that were entered into before their tenure which are non-performing, among others, to make the agency work again.
“We are going to revisit the issue of contract awarded that were not executed , issue of consultancy that were entered into before us, which are non-performing we are going to revisit everything to make NIPOST work” he said.
“The state of infrastructure at the NIPOST’s training Institute is very bad. It seems like an abandoned project. The institute is really a goldmine to the nation if serious attention is given to it. We are going to meet with the minister of communication and the federal government to see what we can do about it.”
She however commended the State government for providing an enabling environment for social service to thrive in the state.
Responding, Kabiru Adjoto, Speaker of the House, assured that the legislature would partner with the establishment to carry out its courier services through the agency so as to help it serve the nation.
“On the issue of debt, your representative here should furnish us with the total debt so as to discuss with the state governor since it was not the house that incurred the debt and get back to you. The Assembly have adopted NIPOST as our national courier,” he said.
He explained that NIPOST has suffered a setback due to the improvement in technology and that it is the duty all stakeholders to help reposition it for the better.
Abubakar Usman, NIPOST Zonal manager, South South, Benin headquarters, , said the zonal office was ranked third across the country in terms of revenue generation of the service.
IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, BENIN