Workers from the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja on Thursday, opposing the decision to transfer the collection of stamp duties to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The protest was sparked by Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed’s directive to hand over the stamp duty collection to FIRS, citing that it falls under tax-related responsibilities.
The demonstration disrupted the public presentation of the 2020 Budget, preventing government officials and guests from accessing the ministry’s main auditorium. The protest continued until the Minister addressed the workers, represented by the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies. She advised them to submit their concerns through a formal proposal.
The protesting workers expressed frustration, claiming that the government’s decision to remove stamp duty collection from NIPOST violates global practices and unfairly favors FIRS. They argued that the recent amendment to the Stamp Duty Act by the National Assembly supports FIRS, and they feel this threatens their roles.
Ayo Olorunfemi, the Secretary-General of the union, argued that even though stamp duty collection is now electronic, NIPOST should still retain its right to handle the process, noting that NIPOST has the mandate to produce and sell stamps for both postage and duty purposes. He accused the Finance Minister of using lobbying efforts to push the bill through the House of Representatives, which could create inter-agency conflict and disrupt the government’s unity.
Olorunfemi also warned that if stamp duty collection is treated as taxation and handed over to FIRS, other revenue-generating agencies like Customs, Nigerian Ports Authority, and Standards Organisation of Nigeria could also lose their functions to FIRS under the Ministry of Finance.
