… Supports Tinubu’s Oil Sector Reforms

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

The Concerned Northern Forum (CNF) has called for restraint and national unity amid the controversy surrounding recruitment and workforce changes at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), warning against narratives that could create ethnic or regional divisions.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, Convener of the group, Aliyu Muhammad, said discussions around the oil company should be guided by facts and official information rather than sentiments capable of deepening divisions.

Muhammad said the group was concerned about attempts to link separate corporate activities of NNPC Ltd, including its Employee Exit Scheme and previous recruitment exercises, describing them as distinct processes.

“It is misleading to link a recruitment exercise conducted earlier with the Employee Exit Scheme that took effect on June 30, 2026. They are separate corporate events,” he said.

According to him, the recruitment process being referenced was conducted in 2025 and followed established procedures, including approval by the company’s board to address identified workforce needs.

He said the exercise was based on professional requirements and competency considerations, adding that NNPC Ltd, as a national energy company, should be assessed on its operational performance and contribution to the country’s development.

Muhammad stressed that the company belongs to all Nigerians and should not be viewed from ethnic or regional perspectives.

He also clarified that some individuals mentioned in public discussions about appointments joined the company before the current management structure was established, urging stakeholders to rely on verified information.

On concerns about oil exploration activities in northern Nigeria, the CNF convener said frontier exploration programmes remained ongoing, noting that different institutions have defined roles under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He explained that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has regulatory responsibilities for frontier exploration funding, while NNPC Ltd continues to participate in relevant projects, including the Kolmani Integrated Development Project.

Muhammad urged Nigerians, particularly stakeholders in the North, to remain patient and support efforts aimed at strengthening the country’s energy sector.

He added that corporate decisions within NNPC Ltd are guided by relevant laws, including the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, and the company’s governing documents.

The group commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for reforms in the oil sector, saying the changes were aimed at improving accountability, efficiency and commercial sustainability.

It also encouraged Nigerians to verify information through credible sources and avoid claims that could undermine national cohesion.