Chika Amanze-Nwachuku and Ejiofor Alike With Agency Report
8 April 2009
Lagos — Six Group Executive Directors (GEDs) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have been sacked in a major shake-up announced yesterday by the Federal Government.
The re-organisation in NNPC saw the appointment of six acting Group Executive Directors.
Industry sources said that the exercise was in line with government's bid to re-position the corporation for greater efficiency.
They also said more changes are likely to take place in the corporation's management cadre as government is poised to rid the state-owned corporation of certain "elements".
But a statement by the corporation's spokesman, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, quoted the Group Managing Director, Dr. Mohammed Barkindo, as saying: "The ongoing changes are in response to the enormous challenges of survival and growth of the Corporation".
Barkindo also said that the appointments take immediate effect.
Under the new arrangement, the GED in charge of Corporate Services, Mr. Ibrahim Waziri, who is from the North-east, has been replaced by Dr. Attahiru Baba Yusuf, also from the North-east.
Mr. Augustine Olusegun Oniwon, from North-central, replaces the GED in charge of Refining and Petrochemicals, Mr. Onochie Azubuike Anyaoku, from the South-east, also in acting capacity.
Mr. Philip Onwuzulike Chukwu, from the South-east, takes over from Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, from the South-south, as the acting GED in charge of Exploration and Production, while Mr. Aminu A. Babakusa, from the North-west replaces Alhaji Shehu Ladan, also from the North-west, as the acting GED in charge of Commercial and Investment.
Similarly, Mr. Faithful Abi Abiyesoku from the South-south replaces Mr. Olusola Williams Ayangbile from the South-west, as the GED in charge of Engineering and Technology, while Mr. Stanley Lawson, from the South-south has been dropped as the GED in charge of Finance and Accounts. Mr. Michael Abiodun Arokodare, who hails from the South-west, is the new acting GED in charge of Finance and Accounts.
The latest re-oganisation is the third major change in the NNPC since the appointment of Dr. Rilwanu Lukman as the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
One of such major changes saw the removal of Alhaji Abubakar Yar'Adua as the acting GMD.
Barkindo replaced him with effect from January 12, 2009.
Until his new appointment, Barkindo, whose career in NNPC spanned more than 23 years, was the Coordinator Special Duties where he presided over major projects of the Corporation.
Also, the Presidency last January announced the appointment of Professor (Mrs.) Yinka Omoregbe as Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of NNPC. Until her appointment, Omoregbe was Dean, Faculty of Law of the University of Ibadan.
Under the proposed reform bill before the National Assembly, NNPC is to be restructured in line with other National Oil Companies (NOCs) such as Saudi Arabia's Aramco, Brazil's Petrobras, Malaysia's Petronas and other NOCs which transact business without relying on their governments for funding.
The bill seeks the incorporation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited as an independent limited liability company.
The NNPC Limited will be subject to the provisions of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) of 1990.
Promoters of the reforms envisage that under the new arrangement, the cash call will not be an issue because the new NNPC Limited will go out to source for funds, based on its shareholding arrangement.
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If sacking the six NNPC Executives can help bring in some kind of trasparency and Accountability within the already decayed institution,it will be a little step forward but it may not be the case unfortunately.I think time has come when the Nigerian people should demand accountability from their political looters or office lossers. Enough is Enough. Please let us start to give those who are qualified a chance to participate in our Democratic system and not to close the doors on them because these bright Nigerians do not political godfathers to plead their cases.Let us start doing things by merits not by quota[s]. Thank you. Protocol84 .