The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has flayed the
continued processing of the Nigeria Postal Commission Bill at the
National Assembly, saying it was inimical to private sector
investments in the courier business in Nigeria.
Its Director-General, Muda Yusuf, registered his displeasure to
the bill in a statement in Lagos.
He said that the passage of the bill, which is already with the
House of Representatives, after its passage by the Senate, is a
negation of the ease of doing business agenda of the Federal
Government and not in consonance with the fundamental principles of
the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
Yusuf explained that the private sector group was concerned with
the situation of things relating to the bill, charging the National
Assembly to halt passage of the bill before the completion of 8th
Assembly.
“LCCI wishes to express its deep reservations over the Nigeria
Postal Commission Bill currently before the National Assembly,” he
said. “We submit that the bill is inimical to private sector
investments in the Courier business; it is a negation of the Ease
of Doing Business Agenda of the Federal Government and not in
consonance with the fundamental principles of the Economic Recovery
and Growth Plan (ERGP).
“Regrettably, the bill has been passed by the Senate, awaiting
concurrence by the House of Representatives. We appeal that the
progression of the bill be halted and the hurtful provisions
expunged.”
The LCCI director general said that the chamber was worried in
particular about aspects of the bill including imposition of an
annual levy of 2.5 per cent of the turnover of courier companies to
be paid to the proposed Postal Services Commission, powers
conferred on the proposed Postal Services Commission to fix rates
for courier services and monopoly privilege conferred on the
Nigerian Postal Service for delivery of items weighing 1kg and
below.
“All these provisions are not consistent with the espoused
commitment of the National Assembly to private sector development,
which was affirmed by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, at
the inauguration of the National Assembly Business Environment
Roundtable (NASSBER) in March 2016,” Yusuf said.
“No sector of the Nigerian economy is subjected to such
anarduous regulatory provision. We request that the bill be
urgently reviewed by the National Assembly in the interest of
economic progress and the welfare of citizens.”
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