Senator Gilbert Nnaji, Chairman, Senate Committee on  Communications

The  Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator  Gilbert Nnaji,  has  said that   his  Committee is  determined to  see that  the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST)  is revitalised   to take its pride of place  in the nation’s economy.

Nnaji also said  he was optimistic that  the Nigerian Telecommunications Company Limited (NITEL)  will rise again, adding that all that is  expected of Nigerians is patience.

In a press statement  sent to THISDAY by the Media Adviser, Mr Monday Charles, Senator  Nnaji  said that his Committee has been   working towards  tackling the NIPOST  challenges  with every seriousness that it deserves, assuring   that the revival of the company  would depend on time.

“NIPOST’s revival depends largely on time. Remember also that the Nigerian Postal Sector Bill is slated to receive topmost priority in the course of our deliberations and oversight functions”, he said, adding that  he was sure that   “Nigerians shall post letters and cargoes with ease and certainty again”.

On what  the  Committee  is doing to address the issue of    NITEL,  Nnaji  said that the true position of NITEL  would become very clear when the on-going investigative hearing on BPE is concluded and decision taken.

He said that  the Committee was working towards ensuring that  NITEL rises again, adding that this was just a question of time. 

  The Senate  Committee Chairman  said  his Committee  was  happy  with the performance of the Ministry of Communication  Technology  which was created   from the Ministry of Information, adding that the Ministry has initiated programmes that  will move the industry forward despite  the challenges.

“It is heart-warming to say that despite these challenges, the ministry is already on course in all ramifications. For instance, the ICT Policy that was evolved by the ministry remains a masterpiece. It would reduce to the barest minimum, all the losses associated with duplication of duties by all the ICT-related agencies. The blueprint is now being publicised for inputs would be passed into law very soon after all other necessary actions”, he said.

He recalled that on inception, the Committee had set some  target  areas for immediate  legislative intervention, including the review of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Act 2003, facilitation of SIM Card Registration Bill passage and to prevail on service providers  and relevant stakeholders on tariff reduction and improvement on service quality.

Other  targets, according to him, include investigation into the  cause of the unnecessary delay in the  take-off  of Rural Telephony operations in the country.

He however expressed regret that the Committee   has been faced with  other challenges, including  the Steve Orasanya Report which  provided for the absorption of certain parastatals into the Ministry as departments.

  “The effects of this are quite obvious. Secondly, we have the issue of conflicting of roles between NESREA and NCC in regulating the operations of GSM service providers. But despite these challenges, our essential task as a committee is to embark on all manner of cooperation and collaboration with the relevant stakeholders to move the evolving ICT industry forward towards economic development”.

On the huge amount spent by NCC  on SIM Card registration, Nnaji said that the issue is currently receiving the attention of his  Committee.

“I cannot in any way preempt the Senate Committee on Communications. By this I wish to restate that every issue relating to SIM Card, NCC and the GSM service providers are receiving priority attentions at the committee level. So at the appropriate time Nigerians would appreciate the determination and efforts of the committee in discharging its oversight functions.

“What we rather expect from the public now is cooperation by way of useful information and suggestions on how to make the communications sector a major player in the transformation agenda of this government”, he said.