Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has welcomed the reconstitution
of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
by President Muhammadu Buhari with cautious considerations.
PANDEF described the move as a mere scratching of the surface of
the problem and urged Buhari to further, carry out a holistic
rejigging of the lopsided NNPC management structure, and correct
the imbalances, in the interest of equity, fairness, peace and
national cohesion.
In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity
Secretary of the group, Hon. Ken Robinson, PANDEF recalled that the
position of Group Managing Director of the NNPC was traditionally
and rightly, reserved for persons from the South-south geopolitical
zone, which produces about 95 per cent of the nation’s crude
extraction.
It argued that it would not be out of place to ask for the
restoration of that tradition.
“PANDEF however notes that the latest NNPC Board composition as
announced by the presidency, shows a departure from the 2016 Board
arrangement, which had no representation from the South-East zone,
an oil producing zone, and to that extent, therefore,
commendable.
“PANDEF further implores those, particularly from the Niger
Delta Region, newly appointed to the Board of the NNPC, to shun
partisan and miniature interests in the discharge of their duties
and responsibilities”.
It insisted that the major concern of the Niger Delta region is
the skewed composition of the Executive management of the NNPC, and
appointment of Chief Executives of the corporation’s
subsidiaries.
“It is simply abhorrent that the Group Managing Director, (GMD),
the Chief Finance Officer, Finance and Account, the Corporate
Secretary/Legal Adviser to the corporation, and chief executives of
virtually all strategic divisions and subsidiaries of the NNPC are
persons from the Northern zones of the country,” PANDEF said.
Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has welcomed the reconstitution
of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
by President Muhammadu Buhari with cautious considerations.
PANDEF described the move as a mere scratching of the surface of
the problem and urged Buhari to further, carry out a holistic
rejigging of the lopsided NNPC management structure, and correct
the imbalances, in the interest of equity, fairness, peace and
national cohesion.
In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity
Secretary of the group, Hon. Ken Robinson, PANDEF recalled that the
position of Group Managing Director of the NNPC was traditionally
and rightly, reserved for persons from the South-south geopolitical
zone, which produces about 95 per cent of the nation’s crude
extraction.
It argued that it would not be out of place to ask for the
restoration of that tradition.
“PANDEF however notes that the latest NNPC Board composition as
announced by the presidency, shows a departure from the 2016 Board
arrangement, which had no representation from the South-East zone,
an oil producing zone, and to that extent, therefore,
commendable.
“PANDEF further implores those, particularly from the Niger
Delta Region, newly appointed to the Board of the NNPC, to shun
partisan and miniature interests in the discharge of their duties
and responsibilities”.
It insisted that the major concern of the Niger Delta region is
the skewed composition of the Executive management of the NNPC, and
appointment of Chief Executives of the corporation’s
subsidiaries.
“It is simply abhorrent that the Group Managing Director, (GMD),
the Chief Finance Officer, Finance and Account, the Corporate
Secretary/Legal Adviser to the corporation, and chief executives of
virtually all strategic divisions and subsidiaries of the NNPC are
persons from the Northern zones of the country,” PANDEF said.