Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has distanced itself from a new courier and logistics regulation by Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) after the latter claimed it had obtained ministerial approval to implement a new licensing regime that has drawn much criticisms from Nigerians.
Isa Ali Pantami, the minister of Communications and Digital Economy on Saturday said neither him nor the ministry was involved in the increase in regulation fees and an investigation on the matter is ongoing.
“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!,” tweeted Pantami.
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
NIPOST had claimed the new regulations were not planned to frustrate ease of doing business rather they aimed to promote growth of MSMEs.
It also said Pantami approved the Reviewed Courier and Logistics Regulations which included courier services providers paying N20 million for new international license, N10 million for new national license, N5 for new regional license, N1 million for new Municipal license and N250,000 for new Special SME license. The regulation required 40 percent of the cost of new licenses as renewal fees.
Pantami via Twitter said the regulation (his ministry) approved doesn’t include the increase in licence fees as NIPOST claimed.
Pantami also noted that the move by NIPOST was ill-advised and would cause further hardship on Nigerians and SMEs already hit-hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
“@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,” he tweeted.
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
