By Saidu Abubakar
Barely a week after swift changes have been effected in the management and board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, trouble has started rearing its ugly head within the organisation with NUPENGASSAN at the centre of it all, seeking correctional measure taken immediately or the consequences would be severe.
NUPENGASSAN represents NUPENG (Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers) and PENGASSAN (Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria) are two Nigerian trade unions representing workers in the oil and gas industry, with PENGASSAN focusing on senior and middle management staff, while NUPENG represents a broader range of workers.
Valuechain reports that a letter with Ref: PEN/NUP.GEC.SEC. 04/25/04.2 and dated 4th April 2025, addressed to the Chief Human Resource Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPC Towers, Central Business District, Abuja warned thus: “we must draw urgent attention to a matter of serious concern to avert avoidable consequences. Based on past experiences, we have observed a recurring trend whenever a new GCEO is appointed externally the temptation to fill top Management positions with external recruitment rather than promoting staff members from within NNPC Ltd. As a matter of caution, we must state clearly that we cannot accept, accommodate, or support the recruitment of senior and Management staff from outside NNPC Limited and that any plan in such direction be stopped immediately”.
The letter was jointly signed by Comrade Amaoge Chukwudi, GEC Secretary of PENGASSAN; Comrade Solomon U. Orieji, FCA GEC Chairman, PENGASSAN; Comrade Paulosa O. Paulosa GEC Secretary of NUPENG, as well as Comrade Baba U. Kaumi GEC Chairman of NUPENG, and copied to the President of PENGASSAN; President of NUPENG;
GCEO, NNPC Limited and the EVP Business Services, NNPC Limited.
The letter entitled: FILLING OF TOP MANAGEMENT POSITIONS IN NNPC LIMITED WITH EXTERNALLY RECRUITED PERSONNEL IS UNACCEPTABLE TO PENGASSAN & NUPENG GEC, further stated that “NNPC Limited is home to thousands of experienced, competent, and dedicated Nigerian professionals across various fields. These individuals, who include our members, have dedicated quality years to sustaining the legacies of our company and are eager to take on higher responsibilities. Denying them career advancement opportunities and overlooking them in favor of external recruitment is grossly unjust and wasteful, and it will also disrupt the company’s steady rance toward greater profitability and efficiency.
“We must therefore caution against any unjust action that undermines the career growth of deserving staff members of our company. If this warning is ignored, we cannot guarantee the continuation of industrial harmony within NNPC Limited.
“Therefore, this letter serves to put the Management and the Board of NNPC Limited on notice that PENGASSAN and NUPENG categorically reject any recruitment or appointment of Senior or Management staff above the SS6 cadre (specifically within the SS5 to M2 cadre) from outside the organization. Any attempt to do so will be met with strong resistance, including a total shutdown of operations”.
The letter noted that “we extend our warm congratulations to the newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and Board Members of NNPC Limited. We wish them success in their new roles and pray for excellence in their assignments. “