Happy World Post Day 2018

I just saw a postman here in the office. I saw his NIPOST bag and knew he had to be from there. He looked kinda elderly and you should have seen how his face literally lit up when I told him "HAPPY NIPOST DAY!" He was somewhat surprised that I cared you know.

I asked what was being done to celebrate the day and he said a lot, adding that I should even be there. I threw a question about how people think nothing is happening with NIPOST anymore and how long they've been in existence. Still smiling and all, he noted that people really don't know that operations are still 'okay'.

"Innovation, Integration and Inclusion" is the theme for this year's World Post Day. Here in Nigeria, those who shop regularly online, especially foreign shops use NIPOST. So in terms of E-commerce, they are being quite innovative by incorporating such in their operations.

Yes, we don't write letters anymore, thanks to Social Media, but ask lecturers how NIPOST has helped them. Last time I visited the post office, I saw a lecturer there who said he needed to send some research documents across to someone in another state, and NIPOST was his best bet.

Then let's talk about postal stamps. Do you know there's a Stamp Duties Act of 2004 which brokers and those signing contracts are meant to adhere to? How do I know? Well, I learnt this on my former job, as a part of the appointment letter mandates you to sign across a postal stamp. This made people visit the post office, and I even had to help some persons to get a s they had no clue as to where the post offices in town are located.

Here's what the Act says:

"Section 89(2) that every receipt given by any person in acknowledgment of goods purchased or services rendered should be denoted by an adhesive postage stamp worth N50 issued by the Nigeria Postage Service; and

ii. Section 14(2) which makes it mandatory for a receipt to be so denoted."

There are agencies of government which can be harnessed to generate revenue for the nation, apart from the oil and gas sector. Sometimes I wonder, why don't we hear much about all government MDAs and how all the ministries are faring, given the monies budgeted for them. I pray postal services can be looked into, the NIPOST website SHOULD be updated and made more inclusive for young persons. We surely can do better than we are doing now. I strongly believe this!!