IYC Blows Hot Over NNPCL Forced Retirement, Threaten To Disrupt Oil Production

The Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) has threatened to disrupt oil production by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in the Niger Delta region in response to a recent wave of mandatory retirements, predominantly impacting Ijaws with 15 months of service remaining.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that NNPCL, in accordance with its status as a Company and Allied Matters Act Company, has announced the retirement of three Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs) who were due to retire in 2024.

The retirements impacted EVPs Abdulkabir Ahmed, responsible for Gas, Power and New Energies; Adokiye Tombomieye, overseeing Upstream; and Adeyemi Adetunji, in charge of Downstream.

NNPCL has already announced replacements for the retired executives. Olalekan Ogunleye replaced Ahmed; Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan replaced Tombomieye; and Adedapo Segun replaced Adetunji.

Besides these other management staff were relieved of their position by NNPCL, saying that these changes are part of the ongoing reform efforts to improve the company’s global competitiveness.

However, the IYC has criticized these actions, alleging they are a deliberate act against the Ijaws by the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government of Nigeria.

In a communique issued by its spokesman, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, IYC claimed the forceful retirement of Ijaw employees is an attempt to exclude them from important roles, accusing the government of favoring Northerners and Yorubas for NNPCL positions.

IYC said; “This forceful retirement of Ijaws in NNPCL is something that we will resist with the last drop of our blood. We see this as an attempt to exclude the Ijaws from the scheme of things and a well hatched plot to only employ Northerners and Yorubas in NNPCL.

“To us as a people, while we love Nigeria as a country and will be ready to do all within our powers for a united one Nigeria, we will not accept any attempt to unjustly undo sons and daughters of Ijaws occupying such sensitive offices in the Nigerian State, it is the promise of IYC that we will not allow this injustice to fester.

“The Ijaws cannot continue to suffer the brunt of oil and gas exploration activities in Niger Delta and could be reduced and prevented by the Federal Government of Nigeria by not allowing their sons to have a say in the oil sector. We cannot be punished as a people for feeding the country.

The IYC however called for the immediate reinstatement of the Ijaw employees, threatening to shut down NNPCL activities across the country if this demand is not met.

“However, it is in the best interest of the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Bola Tinubu to direct whoever that is in charge to urgently reinstate Ijaws that were sacked recently in the NNPCL without any offence. This country belongs to all of us.

“Their urgent reinstatement is in the best interest of Nigeria as anything other than this within few days from now will lead to total shutdown of NNPCL activities across the country. We cannot continue to be feeding Nigeria but will be begging for crumbs.

“Nigeria is a multi ethnic nation hence whatever the Federal Government is doing must be a true reflection of Federal character. For obvious reasons, the NNPCL is gradually becoming a northern empire”, the communique reads.

The IYC also expressed its objection to the alleged purchase of AGIP oil company by OANDO without public bidding for Ijaws and Niger Deltans. They urged the government to address these concerns urgently, or they would have no choice but to disrupt NNPCL and other oil activities in the region.

“The Ijaw Youth Council will also resist the purported buying of AGIP oil compay by OANDO without making it public for qualified Ijaws and Niger Deltans to bid for its take over.

“Before now, the Italian company (AGIP) has contributed a lot for the Ijaw people and her communities via its cooperate social responsibility policy. AGIP is like the life wire of our people. The Ijaws and Niger Deltans must be given the opportunity to participate fully in the oil industry.

“The assurance is that, if these issues are not reversed quickly as soon as possible, the entire Niger Delta community will be left with no other choice but to shutdown NNPCL and other oil activities in the country”, the communique reads.