The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) is to lose nothing less than
15,000 workers due to the recent take over of its primary duty to
produce and issue stamp by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).
To this end,
the
workers have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike; threatening
to withdraw their services across the country after a 21-day ultimatum
issued on Thursday, July 18, 2020.
Addressing a press
conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Senior Staff Association of
Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), who is
the trade union unionising both NIPOST and FIRS workers, said:
“the
FIRS on 30th June 2020 against any known law produced and launched its
owned brand of adhesive stamp thereby hijacking and taking over the
function of NIPOST.”
The General Secretary of SSASCGOC,
Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi, while addressing the press conference said it
was illegal for FIRS to produce and issue a stamp to denote duties when
it can be procured from NIPOST.
If this is allowed to go on, he
said the usurpation of the main duty of NIPOST will lead to about 15,000
job loss, adding that the union would not accept this as there is no
known law that gives FIRS to produce a stamp.
Comrade Olorunfemi said,
“in
respect to job loss, we will not lose anything less than 15,000 workers
and when you look at that, the multiplier effect on the economy and the
saturation of unemployment market, you will know that it will be a
catastrophe waiting to happen and we have said we will not allow that to
happen.”
He added:
“To this end, we are calling on the
federal government to facilitate an urgent meeting between NIPOST, FIRS,
SSASCGOC and other stakeholders in order to arrive at an amicable
resolution.
Failure to do this within 21 days from today Thursday
8th July 2020, the Union shall have no other option than to direct all
its members in NIPOST to withdraw their services.
“It is very
painful that while other nations are protecting and developing their
postal services and making maximum use of the services for advancement,
Nigeria is busy doing things that will kill its own.”
He pointed
out that stamp is a product of NIPOST as given to it by law, adding that
the Financial Act did not give any power to FIRS to produce a stamp.
The
SSASCGOC general secretary said: “It should be noted that both NIPOST
and Federal Inland Revenue Services are Statutory Corporations for which
this Union has Jurisdiction to organise their staff.
Therefore,
our position must always be balanced according to the laws of the land.
That is why we are insisting that both organisations must develop a
synergy that will enhance higher productivity in the area of stamp
matter.
“We recognise the power conferred on FIRS to collect
stamp duties just as that of the NIPOST power to produce and issue
stamps. These must be acknowledged and recognised in implementing the
Finance Act. It should be noted that stamp is a product of NIPOST as
given to it by law.
The Finance Act did not give any power to
FIRS to produce a stamp. In other words, to utilise stamp for duties
FIRS must get it from NIPOST.
“As we speak many Nigerians have
stopped purchasing adhesive stamps from NIPOST. This if not challenged
and nip in the bud will ultimately lead to the collapse of NIPOST and
the staff will have to lose their jobs. We will not allow this to
happen.”
He stated that if the government failed to yield to
their demand and the strike commenced, the union will also go to court
to seek legal redress.
According to Olorunfemi: “Mr President has
told us clearly that there will be no job loss. We consider that as
just a statement coming from Mr President because of his heart, he
doesn’t want it. But when circumstances lead to people losing their
jobs, that statement will be withdrawn.
“So, we don’t want to
wait and rely on that statement that there will be no job loss. If there
is no more job to do, will they continue to keep us? So, we are
determined to protect the interest of our members in this case.
“Why
are we not approaching the court now? We have not thrown that out, it
is an option but as a responsible trade union Organisation, we want to
exploit all available avenue before resorting to court.
“I can
assure you by the time they allow this thing to lead to a strike, we
will also be in court. Once we start the strike, and while we are in the
street fighting, we will also go to court to fight. You don’t fight on
the street when you cannot win in court.
“We have our own way of
seeding messages across. One of the ways is to alert them the way we
have done, and the next stage will be to withdraw our services and
report this matter to the international community. We will also go to
court to seek legal redress.
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