Workers of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) broke out in a protest on Monday, shutting down the head office of the service in Abuja. The protest was to reject the appointment of Tola Odeyemi as Chief Executive Officer/Postmaster-General.
The newly appointed NIPOST CEO was denied entry on Monday. The protesting workers insisted her appointment was against their wish, calling for the reinstatement of the former CEO, Adeyemi Adepoju.
The dramatic twist of events started with an announcement by the Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale last week Wednesday. He announced that President Bola Tinubu had changed the leadership of communication agencies, including NIPOST.
Moments after the news of Odeyemi’s appointment broke, there were reports that Adeyemi Adepoju, the sacked Postmaster-General, had been reinstated.
In a statement by NIPOST on Friday, Adepoju alleged that President Bola Ahmed had reappointed him as CEO and Postmaster-General. The statement read;
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned Rt. Honourable Adeyemi Sunday Adepoju as the Postmaster General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), citing Adepoju’s sterling leadership and excellent performance during his stay in office as the reason for his reinstatement.”
But there was no official statement from the Presidency to confirm the alleged reinstatement.
The newly appointed CEO, Tola Odeyemi, had however assumed office , despite the protest that greeted her appointment.
Reports say that the new postmaster general has held a meeting with the management of NIPOST.
In her inaugural address, she expressed her confidence in her adequate preparedness for the task ahead. She pledged to build on the successes of her predecessors by introducing a digital revolution into NIPOST.
She said, “My experience and qualifications have equipped me to face the challenges ahead. My experience with technologies, fintech, and my time with leading companies like Binance and Uber have prepared me for this moment. As we embrace the future, let’s leverage digital transformations, innovative solutions, and the collective power of our human capital to redefine NIPOST for the modern age.”
“As I assume this role, I aim to build on the commendable work of my predecessors. I look forward to meeting with each one of you, learning from your experiences as it is very important to assess where we are while forging a path forward.”