COMMERCE SS 3 WEEK 2

1. COMMERCE SS 3WEEK 2 COMMUNICATION (CONT) SERVICES OF NIPOST (NIGERIAN POSTAL SERVICE)

2. INTRODUCTION OF NIPOST NIPOST is an extra ministerial department under the Ministry of communication. It was established in Lagos in 1856. It’s responsibility is to ensure proper handling of mails.

3. SERVICES OF NIPOST The following are services rendered by NIPOST: • Ordinary letters: These could be formal or informal letters written by individuals or organizations. Stamps must be affixed on these letters before they are delivered. These letters are sent by air, land or sea. • Parcel Post: Items, gifts or parcels can be sent from one person to another through NIPOST . To determine appropriate charges of parcels, they are usually weighed. • Registered Letters: These letters are registered by NIPOST unlike ordinary letters. They are given special attention to ensure that the mails are delivered. They attract extra and higher charges. Letters that are registered have horizontal and vertical lines drawn across the envelopes. Important documents like certificates etc are best registered. • Express Mails: This service requires that mails are delivered urgently and with priority. It attracts higher charges as well. • Business Reply System: This service enables companies to send correspondences to clients and receive their replies without these clients paying any cost of postage. These companies would have sent their self-addressed envelopes which is used for reply.

4. SERVICES OF NIPOST (CONT) • Post Office Box (P.O. Box) and Private Mail Bag (P.M.B.): NIPOST rents out boxes and bags to individuals and companies. The owners of the boxes and bags are given keys to unlock their bags and boxes. Letters of owners are sorted and kept in their bags and boxes to collect anytime. • Licensing of Franking Machine: NIPOST gives licenses for the use of an automated machine called Franking machine. This machine is used by organizations that have large number of customers and this requires that bulk mails are sent, affixing stamps on each envelope manually. This is time wasting and tiring. This machine prints postage marks on envelopes. • Recorded Delivery: This service is rendered by NIPOST to enable the person who sends a mail to have proof that the letter has been delivered, A certificate of posting is sent to the sender. Extra charges are paid.

5. SERVICES OF NIPOST (CONT)PAYMENT SERVICES NIPOST also offers payment services such as: • Postal Order: This is a means of transferring small amount of money through the post office. Postal orders are used to settle small debts. The post office collects commission called POUNDAGE. • Money Order: This service provides an avenue for transferring large amount of money through the post office. It is an order by one post office to another to pay a named person. Money order is safer than postal order.

6. PAYMENT SERVICES (CONT) • Sale of Stamps: Postage stamps with different denominations are sold by NIPOST. • Cash On Delivery (C.O.D.) Service: With this type of service by NIPOST, businessmen can collect their money for goods sold and delivered to customers. This service is used by mail order businesses. The post office collects the money and remits to the seller.

7. ASSIGNMENT Using samples of (i) Postal Order (ii) Money Order (iii) Stamp, write out the contents of the three samples. You may use concrete objects of the samples or photocopied pictures. You are to submit samples along with assignment on resumption. You are blessed.