ADEWUSI CALLS FOR LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT

Oru Leonard

Postmaster General of the Federation/CEO NIPOST, Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi has called on the Lagos State House of Assembly for Legislative support that will enhance Courier Regulatory role of NIPOST which include licensing of motorcycles used for such businesses.

He said NIPOST needed the support of the House with a legislation that would help ease the task before it especially as it relates to the registration of dispatch riders, issuance of identity cards, and tracking locations.

Adebayo who was on a courtesy visit to the Honourable Speaker, Lagos State Assembly, RT. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa in his office at Alausa Ikeja also sought the collaboration of the House in the area of training arrangements for despatched/delivery motorcyclists in Lagos state and the use of the ‘Address Verification Solution’ (AVS), an idea of NIPOST which is aimed at contributing her own quota in tackling insecurity and crime in the country.

Dr. Adewusi, who said he was proud to be associated with Lagos as a result of the successes recorded by the state, commended Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for playing roles that have assisted the state with its growth and development.

Adewusi, a former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos, however, lamented that internet technology had altered the operational efficiency of the postal services across the world, but added that this had not deterred his team at NIPOST. “We have started the process of reform which is culminating in the unbundling of the Nigerian Postal Service to now have a Property Company, a Logistics and Transport Company, and a Micro Finance Bank. “We have started this process and I believe that by the time I conclude my five-year tenure, we would have succeeded”, he said.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, in his response promised that the House would collaborate with any organization that aims to assist the state with the ease of doing business. “I want to assure you that Lagos is always ready to collaborate with any institution that is willing to work with us for the progress of the state. “This House of Assembly is ready to work with you. The House is always ready to support with legislation and resolutions to enhance the ease of doing business in the state”, he said.
The Speaker expressed optimism that NIPOST will succeed especially with the recent amendment to law with the result being that the organisation now has the opportunity of a public/private partnership (PPP) arrangement. “I commend the Senate, particularly the chairman, Committee on Communications, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for a good job done in amending the NIPOST law,” while he urged NIPOST to take advantage of amendments to revolutionize the organization’s mode of operations.

Obasa noted that Nigerians now  device various means of getting goods and services to their targets including using commercial bus drivers, the Speaker said he looked forward to that period when people’s interests in NIPOST would be rekindled like it was in the past.