Stamp production and duties collection: SSASCGOC gears up for industrial action

Workers in all Federal Statutory Corporations across the states of the federation and Abuja; under the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), have warned the government of dire consequences of diverting the core mandate of Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, under the guise of “duties collection.

Already, SSASCGOC has put all its members and workers in statutory corporations and government owned-companies across the federation on alert and be ready for full trade union actions if the government accede to the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, manipulation to divert the core mandate of NIPOST to sell stamp, “for postage and duty purposes.

Already, SSASCGOC has led the workers to carry out series of rallies and protests to the National Assembly and the Ministry of Finance, in Abuja, warning the Finance minister against the move and calling on the Senate to stop what they term as illegality.

The General Secretary of SSASCGOC, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi, said the association is already sensitizing its members across all states and federal statutory corporations in the country to be on alert.

In a statement issued at the weekend, he said the workers shall no longer wait and allow the minister of finance take over the core mandate of any statutory corporation under any guise.

He said: “We are using this opportunity to humbly request President Muhammadu Buhari to call this agent of division to order if truly the government is committed to industrial peace and prosperity. She should be told that stamp is a product and its producer whether electronic or adhesive is NIPOST and that is global standard.

“Nigeria cannot and should not be an exception. She can’t reinvent sham and force it on the good people of Nigeria. On our part we shall continue to sensitize our members which cuts across all states and federal statutory corporations in Nigeria to be on alert. We shall no longer wait and allow the Minister of finance take over the core mandate of any statutory corporation under any guise.

“NIPOST has the mandate under the existing law to produce stamp and sell same for both postage and duty purposes. A migration from physical or adhesive to electronic stamping can never lead to change of ownership. NIPOST is currently well positioned under the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy just as NPA is adequately positioned under its Transportation Ministers.

“We want to appreciate the people Senators, ably led by the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan for their support so far. We appeal to the Senate not to succumb to this evil machination as its ill-wind will blow no one no good.”

The statement also read: “Our attention has been drawn to the renewed attempt by the Minister of Finance to take over the stamp aspect of the NIPOST function and transfer same to Federal Inland Revenue. Her major reason is that since the stamp is used to denote receipts, transactions and other documents, it is a tax in nature and her agency must take it over.

“The Minister had used her strength in the area of lobbying to get the House of Representatives to pass the bill.

The action of the Minister is unfortunate, inimical to the ideals preached by this administration and if not checked is capable of causing inter-agency disunity or unhealthy rivalry even now when all hands must be on deck to uplift the Nation.”

It added: “From the argument of the Minister, it follows that if stamp duty is a form of taxation, its collection should be ceded to the FIRS. The Nigeria Custom service also collect various duties, will it also revert to FIRS? Of course if we permit the evil as being perpetrated, the Custom Service, Nigeria Ports Authority, Standard Organisation of Nigeria and all revenue collecting agencies will eventually cede their responsibilities to FIRS under the highly powerful Minister of Finance.”

The union pointed out that Nigeria will be in trouble if the Ministry of Finance and FIRS are allowed to usurp the responsibility of others, saying that the entire wealth of Nigeria will be put in the hand of one organisation.

“That to us is a way of buying Nigeria, taking Nigeria and putting the country in the hand of one individual person.”

He added, “There will be Job loss if that happens. We are going to lose not less than 9,000 workers in NIPOST at a time that we are supposed to be creating jobs.

“If you leave it the way it is NIPOST will create tiles two the number in direct employment. More than 20,000 direct employment will be created.