The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have jointly condemned the recent decision by the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) to fill top and mid-level management positions through external recruitment.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the NNPC Ltd leadership, the unions expressed solidarity with their in-house members, describing the move as “unacceptable” and lacking any proven benefit to the company’s performance.
The unions referenced a similar occurrence in 2015 when then-GMD Dr. Ibe Kachikwu replaced the top management team with personnel from international oil companies (IOCs), a move they claimed failed to improve the company’s fortunes while also stifling the career progression of long-serving staff.
“There is no proven record that hiring externally has yielded any positive impact on the company. Instead, it has often been a means of rewarding cronies and sidelining competent Nigerians who have devoted their careers to the company,” the unions stated.
While welcoming the recent appointment of a new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and board members by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on April 2, the unions categorically rejected the external appointments made into M2 positions and below on April 4.
They demanded an immediate reversal of the decision, warning that failure to do so would trigger “fierce and serial industrial unrest,” as their in-house group councils and union organs have been placed on red alert.
The unions reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the rights and career progression of their members and urged the NNPC Ltd board to prioritize internal talent in its recruitment processes.
