Nigeria’s Minister of Communications & Digital Economy Dr Isa Ali Pantami, said on Saturday that he did not approve the new NIPOST increase of license fees.
This was announced in a statement issued by the Minister via his Twitter handle after social media outrage at NIPOST over the increased fees.
The Minister responded to NIPOST’s social media handles that “our attention has been drawn to an increase of license fee, which was not part of the regulation I earlier APPROVED for you. Your Chair and PMG were YESTERDAY contacted to put the implementation on hold and send a report to our ministry by Monday. Best wishes!”
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“ The power of regulation of NIPOST lies with the Minister. Any change of fee must be specific & be approved by him before implementation. I know the economic challenges of NIPOST. However, looking at the economic hardship of our citizens, we need to suspend any move,” he added.
Pls @NipostNgn, our attention has been drawn to an increase of licence fee, which was not part of the regulation I earlier APPROVED for you. Your Chair and PMG were YESTERDAY contacted to put the implementation on hold and send a report to our ministry by Monday. Best wishes!
— Isa Ali Pantami, PhD (@DrIsaPantami) July 25, 2020
2) @NipostNgn, d power of regulation of NIPOST lies with the Minister. Any change of fee must be specific & be approved by him before implementation. I know the economic challenges of NIPOST. However, looking at the economic hardship of our citizens, we need to suspend any move
— Isa Ali Pantami, PhD (@DrIsaPantami) July 25, 2020
Earlier this week, NIPOST approved new license fees for people in the courier business, increasing the new license fees for Municipal operators to N1 million, and renewals fees a year up to 40% of new license fees at N400,000.00 a year.
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Dear @femigbaja, please block this needless policy by Nipost that will cripple thousands of small businesses. Thousands of young people have created their own jobs and are trying to just survive. This will kill thousands of #MSMEs. Please don’t let it happen. Counting on you sir. pic.twitter.com/33ucYLlVMb
— Dr. Dípò Awójídé (@OgbeniDipo) July 24, 2020
State operators’ fees rose to N2 Million, regional to N5 million, national to N10 Million, while Internal operators are meant to pay N20 Million as license fees. All license renewal is pegged at 40% of license fees per zone.
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The news of the new fee structures caused an uproar as Nigerians accused the regulator of cutting off competition from smaller operators during a coronavirus pandemic that has heavily affected Africa’s largest economy.
NIPOST earlier said that the new regulation aims to improve Nigeria’s logistic and courier structure with better efficiency following President’s Buhari new ease of doing business policies.
