NNPC $25b contracts: PENGASSAN backs Baru, says Kachikwu an interloper

Oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria have vowed to resist any attempt by officials who are not designated for the administration of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to meddle in the affairs of the corporation.
The workers warned that they will stop non-executive officials from using top management positions in the National Oil Company to settle cronies at the detriment of dedicated staff.
In a statement signed by the Group Secretary of the Group Executive Council of PENGASSAN in NNPC, Comrade Sulaiman Sulaiman, they noted that the recent re-organisation in the NNPC was in good faith and encouraged internal growth.
They stated: “We are convinced that the recent re-organization in NNPC is in good faith and in tandem with our call for allowing internal growth in the system through hard work and positive appraisals.
“We shall continue to reject and vehemently resist attempts in meddling into day-to-day running of the organization by non-executive officials of the Corporation. We will not, any longer allow our institution to be an avenue to settle friends and cohorts into Management positions of NNPC at the detriment of dedicated staff with all the requisite qualifications within the system.
“Problems will continue to occur as long as the Chairman of the Board will continue to meddle into day-to-day running of the organizations, which is a Management role. Any attempt to allow this to happen will spell doom for the country and create a window for abuse.”
The senior staff said good practice in corporate governance requires absolute segregation of oversight role from management day-to-day role, asking “Why should a board chairman seek to meddle in internal organizational adjustment?”
They noted that the Board Chairman should focus on the performance appraisal of the Board Committees and its members rather than wanting to dictate appointments or award contracts in NNPC.
According to the workers, contrary to claim in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, staff are no longer afraid to talk or express their opinion, especially with the domestication of whistle blowing policy and re-constitution and launching of the Anti-Corruption Committee by the Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru.
They also opposed the questioning of the $25 billion contracts awarded by Baru in Kachikwu’s letter to Buhari.
The workers said: “In terms of workplace harmony, NNPC has enjoyed the best industrial atmosphere under the present Top Management of NNPC. So far there is zero record of industrial crisis or shutdown, which is the first of its kind in the history of struggle in oil and gas in Nigeria. Thanks to the efforts of the current GMD and the GED Corporate Services.”
They, therefore, supported the decision of the Senate to thoroughly investigate the weighty allegations by Kachikwu against Baru on the awards of the $25 billion contracts and new appointments in the national oil company, adding that Nigerians will be waiting to hear the outcome of these sensitive investigations.