Increasing NIPOST Revenue Base: The Best Corporate Strategy

By

Emeka Oraetoka

oramekllis@lycos.com

There is no doubt that the advent of Internet in the global environment played a leading role in spurring NIPOST into action, as it was faced with the possibility of total extinction from the surface of Postal Industry  generally. 

The good effect of Internet challenge on NIPOST is therefore, the resurrection of the establishment from its comatose condition, through reform efforts of its leadership. The on-going reform has brought many innovations in the establishment’s activities. It was probably in realization of the untiring effort of NIPOST management at repositioning the organization that the world regulatory body, Universal Postal Union [UPU], decided to elect Nigeria into its executive committee, which availed the country of the opportunity of knowing in details, what is going on in the postal industry globally.

Inline with the reform efforts of Federal Government, which resulted in NIPOST sourcing appreciable percentage of its revenue to meet certain level of internal obligations, there appear to be new challenges confronting the establishment. The foremost issue is how to be sufficiently self accounting in its activities, in view of first, the ever increasing level of competition from a very formidable front- the Internet. Secondly, how to effectively compete in the global postal environment without jeopardizing it corporate responsibility in Nigeria, that is, the enhancement of effective  communication in Nigeria in particular, and West Africa Sub-region in general. More importantly, how best it can play the emerging role as one of the agencies that plays important role in National Security. These issues call for strategic balancing from NIPOST, as it confronts the competitive postal industry.

In view of the foregoing, it has become highly imperative that NIPOST doubles its effort towards increasing its revenue base; without offending the cardinal principle behind its establishment in the first place- [facilitating communication amongst peoples and nations]. To this end, the parent organization, Information and Communication Ministry, is expected to play a leading role in removing any bottleneck that may hinder the take-off of any laudable venture NIPOST may want to engage in, with a view to increasing its revenue base. In order words, unnecessary bureaucratic bottleneck that may impede a smooth communication between NIPOST and its regulatory Ministry should not be allowed to exist, if NIPOST is to compete favourably in the heavily deregulated and competitive postal industry of today. For NIPOST, the era of rigidity in business activities is over, from global trend in the postal industry. For instance, NIPOST could use its vast network in the country to enhance business relation with Commercial Banks and other business concerns, like MTN, GLOBALCOM, CELTEL and host of others. In this regard, NIPOST vast branches all over the country could be made available to willing Commercial Banks on rented basis or on any other mutually beneficial basis, as may be agreed upon. This line of suggestion could be advantageous to those banks without much presence in the rural areas of the country. For the GSM operators, NIPOST offices could be utilized as business centres under a mutual agreement with NIPOST. Other types of beneficial business relationship could also be reached between these GSM providers and NIPOST; all that is required here is flexibility.

Good enough, the administration of President Umoru Musa Yar’Adua has shown total commitment to the success of NIPOST. Feelers from the ministry of Information and Communication point to this fact. Speaking at the occasion to mark the 2007 World Postal Day in Abuja recently the minister of information and communication, Mr. John Ogar Odey said that during the first quarter of 2007, federal government approved the installation of 1,500 VSAT in all major post offices to enhance service delivery as well as assist bridging the digital divide in the rural areas. Mr. Odey further said, “With the installation of the VSAT infrastructure, state of the art facilities will also be provided to support government’s policy on wealth creation in line with Mr. President’s seven point’s agenda”. This reassuring comment from the minister has indeed proved that the survival of NIPOST is paramount in the mind of President Yar’Adua’s government. 

On social responsibility angle, NIPOST could partner with commercial banks and GSM operators to resuscitate the dead reading culture in Nigeria. This will go a long way in bringing about much needed intellectual revival in the country. It could also go a long way in enhancing effective communication in the country; just as it will reduce, if not eradicate crisis in our body policy. It could be noted that the current effort of President Umaru Musa Yar-Adua’s government in the area of resuscitating moral rectitude, particularly among the youths of this country, required effective communication, and this is why NIPOST must, as a matter of urgency, partner relevant establishments in this regard, bearing in mind, its overall responsibility in the country- facilitating effective communication generally.

Emeka Oraetoka

Information Management Consultant,

Wrote in from Garki-Abuja

e-mail:oramekllis@lycos.com