The decision by the newly appointed management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to recruit external staff for top management positions has sparked a strong backlash from the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Both unions expressed their opposition in a joint letter dated April 4, 2025, sent to the NNPCL’s Chief Human Resources Officer, demanding that the company halt its external recruitment efforts for senior management roles and instead promote capable internal staff.
The unions’ concerns follow the recent announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appointing Mr. Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL and Ahmadu Kida as the non-executive chairman, marking the end of the tenure of Mele Kyari and Pius Akinyelure.
In their letter, NUPENG and PENGASSAN, which represent thousands of skilled professionals within the company, emphasized that the practice of appointing external candidates to high-level positions has been a recurring issue whenever a new GCEO is appointed. The unions argued that promoting internal staff who are already well-versed in the company’s operations would be a more effective approach, fostering continuity, morale, and growth.
“We must state clearly that we cannot accept, accommodate, or support the recruitment of senior and management staff from outside NNPC Limited,” the letter read. The unions further warned that such actions would disrupt the company’s progress and undermine the career advancement of its dedicated staff.
The unions made it clear that any attempt to recruit senior or management staff from outside NNPCL, specifically above the SS6 cadre, would be met with strong resistance, including a potential total shutdown of operations.
“We extend our congratulations to the new leadership of NNPCL, but this warning serves as a clear message that we will not tolerate any unjust action that undermines our members’ career growth,” the letter concluded.
The unions called on NNPCL’s management and board to immediately reconsider their recruitment strategy to ensure industrial harmony and protect the interests of the company’s experienced workforce.
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