The staff of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has, on Wednesday, embarked on an indefinite strike over poor welfare packages and a decline in service delivery.

One of the striking workers told FIJ that NIPOST clients had always complained of poor mail delivery as a result of derailing equipment and vehicles.

“The welfare packages for the staff are poor. Grade level 1-6 receive N10,000 annual housing allowance, level 7-9 receive N15,000 and 10-13 receive N30,000. Meanwhile, level 14-17 receive N250,000. The condition of service in terms of mail delivery is very poor. That was why customers usually complained. All the vehicles in NIPOST are very old,” he said.

Photos obtained by FIJ show a few workers standing behind placards with inscriptions like “There should be dignity in labour, NIPOST workers are not slaves” and “NIPOST’s management doesn’t honour agreements. Pay us our dues, salary arrears, medical, repatriation, posting allowance and rent enhancement”.

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“Many have died because of frustration, stress and the inhuman behaviour of so-called ‘colonial masters’ who direct, in one way or the other, the affairs of this organisation,” an aggrieved worker told FIJ.

The strike action was announced in a notice issued to the management of the service on Tuesday, and titled “Mobilisation for the Resumption of the Suspended Warning Strike”.

“You may recall that on the 21st of December, 2020, the two in-house unions suspended the picket action after signing a communique with NIPOST management to address critical issues that affect the organisation and the welfare of staff,” the notice read in part.

“You are directed to mobilise all members in your state/chapter for industrial action, beginning 12:00 am on the 29th of September, 2021. We will continue with the suspended strike action in anticipation that demands are met within epoch.”

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The two unions in the organisation, the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSACGOC) and the National Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employees (NUPTE), expressed disappointment in NIPOST management for failing to urgently save the organisation from collapse.

On August 23, the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy announced plans to unbundle NIPOST into property and development, logistics, courier and microfinance companies to enable it maximise revenue generation.

Meanwhile, Maimuna Abubakar, NIPOST chairman, on Tuesday, appealed to both unions to withdraw the strike notice and “give the board three weeks to see to the resolution of all issues” raised.