By Moses John
Abuja
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) yesterday vowed to resist any attempt by offi cials not designated for the administration of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to meddle with the aff airs of the corporation.
Th e union said it had resolved to support the decision of the Senate to thoroughly investigate the weighty allegations by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr.
Ibe Kachikwu, against the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr.
Maikanti Baru on the awards of the $25 billion contracts and new appointments in the nation’s oil company.
Th ey also warned that they would stop non-executive offi cials from using top management positions in the NNPC to settle cronies at the detriment of dedicated staff .
A statement by the Secretary, Group Executive Council (GEC), Comrade Sulaiman Sulaiman, said the recent re-organisation in the Corporation was in good faith and one which would encourage internal growth.
It read in part: “We are convinced that the recent reorganisation in the 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 organisation by non-executive offi cials of the Corporation,” it warned, adding they would “no longer allow the 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 qualifi cations within the system.
” Th ey contended that the present problem in the corporation would continue to linger as long as the Chairman of the Board continued to meddle into the day-to-day running of the organisation.
Th e senior staff said good practice in corporate governance required absolute separation of oversight role from management day-to-day role.
PENGASSAN advised the board chairman to focus on performance appraisal of the board committees and its members rather than dictating appointments or award contracts in the NNPC.
Th e workers said contrary to claims in the contentious letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, “the staff are no longer afraid to talk or express their opinions,” especially with the domestication of whistle blowing policy and re-constitution of the anti-corruption committee by the current GMD.
“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 fi rst of its kind in the history of struggle in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, thanks to the eff orts of the current GMD and the GED Corporate Services.
