REMEMBERING AN ICONIC POSTMASTER GENERAL LATE ABUBAKAR MUSA ARGUNGU 18 YEARS AFTER

 


He might have passed on eighteen years ago, but the unending  memories about him may never fade. His face, doggedness, charisma, examplary character,  good intentions and disposition towards his staff may take the next generation to forget. He was a rare  personality who had left indelible footprints positively in the sand of times.



Mallam Abubakar Musa Argungu, the late Postmaster General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Postal Service from June 2000 to 22nd October 2005, when the cruel cold hands of death snatched him away. He and his Personal Assistant on International Relations, Mr Stephen Eneware, were on board of the  Belview Airline flight 210, which crashed  at Lisa Igbore Village in Ogun state, killing all passengers on board.

The news of his death came like a deadly blow on Nigerians more significantly the Nigerian Postal Industry. NIPOST staff  had wept openly and business activities came to a stand still.  He was their hero and role model, their dynamic and dependable Postmaster General with whom they pride themselves He uplifted Nigerian Postal Service and transformed it to the best parastatal in Nigerian, the best postal service in Africa and one of the best postal services in the world


Never in the history of Nigerian Postal Service had a serving Postmaster General imparted so much positive visible contributions that completely turned around the fortune of the organization like Mallam Abubakar Musa Argungu did

Barrister  Olusegun Sofunke, a former Assistant Postmaster General (F&I) attested to this in his tribute "Even the best of cynic will marvel at the level of performance of  this achiever, who at the age of 47 in year 2000 was  bestowed, by destiny with the responsibility of leading Nigerian Postal Service at a time morale  was at lowest ebb and image became a laughing stock. He practically picked NIPOST from the gutter and brought it to the center stage of efficiency and honour."

Mr Johnson Ajaegbu, a former Assistant Director (HRM) put it thus: "Before his assumption of office, Nigerian Postal Service was in a  comatose and its workers wore mournful looks which was a clear reflection of the frustration, bottled up anger, deprivation etc. That state of affair was occasioned by lack of motivation, poor salary to mention but a few. In a single swoop Mallam Argungu did not only improve the lot of the workers, he also re-engineered the postal industry. Consequently the hitherto 'Kwashiorkor' stricken organisation within a couple of years metamorphosed into a top flight awe-inspiring flagship of postal industry in Africa"


He was a vibrant, energetic, dynamic and highly focussed Chief Executive, a man with a difference in the discharge of his duties. A detribalized Nigerian, whose credential of efficient leadership qualities and professional acumen mark him out as an icon worthy of emulation. He brought life and vibrancy to a moribund organization. He distinguished himself very well in effectively piloting the affairs of the Nigerian Postal Service that everyone was proud to be associated with it. 

So outstanding were his dedication to duty, capability, strong sense of discipline, humility, transparency and honesty towards the discharge of his duties, that the then head of state  President Olusegun Obasanjo, not only attested to his uncommon resourcefulness but described him as an asset not only to NIPOST but to Nigeria and Africa.

Born 18th May, 1953 to the family of Musa Young Abubakar. He attended the following Schools:- Dankoji Primary School in Argungu, Turaki Primary School, in Sokoto, College of Arts and Arabic Studies in Sokoto and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he bagged a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration


He started his career as a teacher with the Sokoto Local Education Authority in 1973. His quest for improvement in his intellectual sagacity saw him moving in 1979 to University of Sokoto, as an Executive Officer (Accounts) Three years later he moved again to Nigerian Dairies Company Ltd, as an Accountant. In  December, the same year, he moved to Sokoto University Teaching Hospital as a Senior Accountant, where he rose to become the Head of Accounts Department and acting Chief Accountant. He left to join  National Primary Education Commission, Kaduna as Chief Accountant in April 1989 and later moved to National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non formal Education, Kaduna as Assistant Director (Finance) and Head of Accounts Department in September 1991. He moved again to join Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Abuja in 1992 as Director of Finance and Supplies, a post he held till February, 1993.

He joined the Nigerian Postal Service as a Senior Assistant Postmaster General (SAPMG) in March 1993. He rose to become the  Deputy Postmaster General (DPMG) in January 1996. He was appointed Acting Postmaster General of the Federation in December 1999 and confirmed in June 2000


He was an academic member of many professional institutions, amongst which are Member, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Fellow, Nigerian institute of Management, Fellow, Nigerian institute of Industrial Management, Fellow, institute of Cost Management.

His achievements in re-positioning NIPOST attracted commensurate recognition from international Postal Organizations through his election into strategic committees such as Chairman, Finance Committee of the Universal Postal Union ( UPU) Chairman, Administrative Council of the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) to mention but a few.

He  also received so many Awards in recognition of his pivotal roles as Post master General. The awards included but not limited to Millennium Merit Award by Nigerian Union of Journalist, Oyo State Council 2000, Distinguished Achievers Award by NUJ, Abuja Council 2001,  Outstanding Public Servant Award by Success Digest Enterprise Award 2001, Universal Postal Union Commendation for Visionary Leadership 2002, Outstanding Chief Executive Officer's Award by the Guardian Newspaper 2003, Daily Times Hall of Fame 2004, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) 2004, Man of Distinction in Corporate Nigeria Award by Business Day Media Limited 2005 etc

He was a  deeply religious man whose every  action was guided by the fear of God and reverence for him

He was a loving, caring, and amiable husband and father


Eighteen years have gone since he left this world yet it was like yesterday. People still remember his face, his doggedness, his charisma. his uprightness, his love, his thoroughness and accountability. He is simply unforgettable. His footprints in NIPOST shall forever remain indelible in the psyche of all Nigerians and the rest of the postal world

May his gentle soul continue to rest in peace




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