Exclusive: Battle for Postmaster General of NIPOST Hots up, Staff Union Wants Buhari To Consider Competence

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Friday, September 25th, 2015

By Ayo Balogun, Abuja

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The battle of who becomes the next Postmaster General (PMG) of the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) has begun with various interest groups and individual lobbying for their candidates.

There are some who believe that competence and transparency as well as equitable reflection of federal character should be considered in the appointment.

These groups are insisting that President Muhammadu Buhari should thoroughly look inside among aspiring candidates and appoint the most credible, competent and honest person but with due respect to the tenets of the federal character principles.

Among these groups that believe in competence is Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transport and Corporations (NIPOST) Chapter.

The union president, Mr Gabriel Imafidon, had expressed disappointment that President Buhari has been ill-advised to approve that the position of the PMG be advertised and thrown open to the public adding that the President must have been misinformed on the operations of NIPOST.

According to him, the post of the PMG should be given to the most senior deputy PMG in the core postal service operations.

‎As the battle rages, African Examiner gathered that all the five deputy PMGs are intensely lobbying for the jobs.

Arc. Enoch Ade Ogun, the acting PMG who until his ‎present position in the acting capacity was DPMG from North Central is due to retire by December 2015. While Mr. Chabiri Ben Ndahi ‎is DPMG in charge of HRM from north east, he is due to retire by July 2016.

Another DPMG Joseph Ariyo from South West is due to go by August 2016.

Richard Balami also from North east geopolitical zone and to retire in June 2016.

Meanwhile a group is lobbying that the only DPMG from the North central; the zone that has not produced the PMG since inception is Dr. Emem Samuel Emmanuel ‎who is from Benue state.

He is said to still have about three and a half years in service before he will retire. He is also the only core postal DPMG, a credential that has placed him above other candidates for the post.

Our correspondent gathered that historically, from 1985 to date, no one from the north central region has been ‎appointed the substantive PMG. But all other zones have produced more than two PMGs like the south west and the north west.

The south east had the first shot in 1985 to 1989 with C.I Ike, Nathaniel Zome from north east between 1989 and 1993. Eng Joshua Bamigbele from the South west became the third PMG between 1993 to 1994 and handed over to Eng. Taiwo Olukolu from 1994 to 1999. He was succeeded by Abubakar Musa Argungu who died in a plane crash in 2006. The immediate past PMG, Mallam Mori Baba also was from the north west.

The acting PMG who is due for retirement in December 2015. It was gathered however that Ade Ogun, the acting PMG who is from kwara state, same state with the Senate President, is banking on the assurances from the senate President, Saraki that he would be confirmed as the substantive PMG.

The other three DPMGs who will be retiring by 2015 are all from support services of the postal operations. It was also gathered that the last time a core postal operation officer was appointed PMG was when Mr. C I Ike and Joshua Bamigbele who headed the agency between ‎1985 to 1989 and 1993 to 1994.

Another factor it was gathered is the fact that no one from the North Central has been appointed to head NIPOST except the current acting PMG, Arc Enoch Ade Ogun. Dr. Emem from the same zone who has also indicated interest in the top postal job has promised to make even the ‎smallest Post Office a one stop shop where all postal digital, financial, logistics (physical and electronic) and citizen services are rendered professionally.

He promised to fast track the ongoing automation by partnering with international IT companies of high repute and manufacturers of both hard and soft wares.

As part of his vision for NIPOST, he said the reintroduction of airlifting of mail to ensure next day delivery in all airport stations nationwide and ensure the implementation of Post bus Service to effectively move mails, leasing of large buses directly from the manufacturers that conveys both mails and passengers on similar routes will be his priority.