NIPOST Wins Stamp Duty Charges War Against FIRS

NIPOST and FIRS

The Nigeria Postal Service, NIPOST, has finally won the war over the collection of stamp duty charges.

Recall that the government agency had fought the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS for usurping its role.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, disclosed the new development on Thursday, putting an end to the bickering between the two government agencies over whose responsibility is it to collect the charges.

Mr Pantami, who made the disclosure on Thursday during the launching of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary Commemorative Postage Stamps in Abuja, commended President Muhammadu Buhari, and the leadership of the National Assembly, for their interventions on the matter.

He said: “Our efforts regarding the issue of stamp duty collection with other government Institutions have yielded positive results.

“NIPOST has been recognised as a government agency with statutory and historical authority to be the producer of stamps and recognised for collection of stamp duties for validation of financial transactions in the country.

“We appreciate Mr. President for listening to our complaints, and we extend our gratitude to him and the Senate and House Committees for their intervention in ensuring that justice was done,” Mr Pantami said.

The minister said challenges of regulation; policy and financing confronting NIPOST over the years are being addressed with a view to place the Agency on a platform that would enable it generate revenue for the Federal Government.

He said NIPOST would be unbundled into three companies to boost its operations, while efforts are on the pipeline for Federal Executive Council to approve the renovation and rehabilitation of all its dilapidated offices across Nigeria.

The minister noted that 97 percent of the rules making procedures of NIPOST are being done to facilitate robust debates on the Acts establishing the Agency, asserting that this was being done to ensure robust contributions from stakeholders anytime there is need for subsidiary legislation to enhance the operation of the Agency.

In her remark, the Chairman of NIPOST board, Maimuna Abubakar said NIPOST by presentation of the anniversary stamps has again shown that it would continue to play its roles in advancing the rich culture and historical heritage of the country.

She said: “The Postal Industry from time immemorial has fostered the use of postage stamp as a veritable medium for nurturing of culture.

“Nigeria as a country is amply blessed with historical evidence of great works of arts, cultural monuments and features that help in the transmission of cultural heritage from one generation to another.

“Many of such have been reflected on Nigerian postal stamps, most especially in colonial and post-colonial Nigeria. A strong Nigeria must be a cultural Nigeria and NIPOST has a role to play in advancing this by marking events such as this one.”