PENGASSAN, NUPENG rally behind Baru

Unions in the oil and gas sector on Monday pledged support for the
‘transformation stride’ of the Group Managing Director, GMD, of the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria,
PENGASSAN, and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers,
NUPENG, made the pledge in Abuja according to a statement by Ndu
Ughamadu, NNPC Group General Manager Group Public Affairs Division.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, had
accused Mr. Baru of flouting contractual agreements, creating a fear
culture in the corporation and insubordination among others.

Mr. Ughamadu, reacting to the allegations on Monday, however, said
the minister’s allegations were not true as due process had been
followed in the corporation’s various activities.

Mr. Ughamadu said at a solidarity visit to the GMD, the National
President of PENGASSAN, Francis Johnson, said the unions and its members
considered it appropriate to rally round Baru and the NNPC Management
to pledge their support.

“The unions’ support for the GMD was based on his ability to walk his talk since assuming office last year.

“The National body of PENGASSAN and all the NNPC in-house unions are here today to show our support for you.

“You have brought stability to the NNPC and we are happy today that
staff morale is high. You were Chairman of NNPC Anti-Corruption
Committee for over five years and that was what informed your
appointment as GMD of NNPC.

“Today, all the bullets you are taking are on behalf of members of
staff. We will continue to pray for you, God will continue to guide and
shield you,” Mr. Ughamadu quoted Johnson.

Mr. Ughamadu said the unionist called on Nigerians to be cautious of
their comments on the controversy, adding that any wrong information was
capable of discouraging investors from the oil and gas industry.

He said the NNPC Group Chairman of PENGASSAN, Sale Abdullahi, who
also spoke during the solidarity visit disclosed that part of the
unions’ concern had to do with the need to protect not only the GMD but
the NNPC as an institution.

”Baru had streamlined the processes and procedures in the Corporation
leading to the full restructuring which was beginning to yield positive
results.

”Today, the GMD and NNPC Management receive inputs from staff and
this gesture by Dr Baru has given members of staff a sense of belonging.

”Today, our inputs are being implemented and we are highly motivated.”

Other union leaders who were at the meeting to lend support were the
Group Chairman of NNPC NUPENG, Udofia Benjamin, and Chairman of NNPC
Corporate Headquarters Chapter of PENGASSAN, Mathew Duru.

Also speaking, Mr. Baru described the allegations of award of
contracts without regard to due process as unfounded and unfortunate.

He explained that as a former chairman of the NNPC Anti-Corruption
Committee, he would be the last person to breach the procurement process
by disregarding extant laws and rules.

The GMD said both the NNPC Act and Public Procurement Act vested
procurement powers on the NNPC Tenders Board, the President and the
Federal Executive Council (FEC) depending on the cost threshold,
stressing that the NNPC Board had no role whatsoever in the process.

“I know for those of you who are following what we are doing here,
you know that there’s no money lost and no process has been breached.

“Our contracting process is perfect and we will continue to follow
the process. The NNPC Board has no role, I repeat, has no role as far as
the contracting process is concerned,” Baru said.

He said the crude term contract and the DSDP agreements were not
contract as such but pre-qualification of off-takers of crude oil.

“The case of DSDP, is of those that will take crude and give us products in return.

“So there is no value to them. But humongous figures have been put forward mainly to incite the public, it is most unfortunate.”

(NAN)