Apply federal character in restructuring of NNPC, IYC tells FG

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide has urged the Federal Government and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to apply the principle of federal character in downsizing and restructuring of the corporation.
It also faulted the December terminal date for the amnesty programme for Niger Delta ex-militants, describing the time line as not feasible, due to series of issues that had not been addressed.

President of IYC, Udengs Eradiri, at an interactive session with newsmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said though the NNPC needed restructuring, the sacking of its senior staff from the Niger Delta without genuine reasons was unacceptable to the people of the region.
He said: “We are all aware that the sector needs to be restructured. The IYC supports fully the restructuring of the oil and gas sector particularly the NNPC in order for it to be more effective and create the necessary funds that will drive development in Nigeria.
“However, the recent downsizing is one that we have critically looked at and for us, we feel that with the downsizing, there is one thing that is paramount in Nigeria. Any time appointments are done, there is what we call federal character which ensures that every state is equally carried along in terms of appointment and in terms of allocation of offices.
“But in the recent downsizing that took place, a lot of our people, especially from the Niger Delta region core oil producing states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, have been sacked. In fact, most of them still have up to two years to retire and they have not been found wanting in any way, yet they were sacked without any reason.
“Having looked at it, we feel we should draw the attention of the Federal Government to this and probably it was an oversight. We want the new Group Managing Director of the NNPC, being a good player in the sector, to look critically into the issues we have raised.”
“He should review the list of those sacked, look at the issues and if they are not found wanting, should be recalled. We have forwarded formal complaint to the management of NNPC and Muhammadu Buhari expressing our concerns about the restructuring that is going on. We support him but it should not be seen as a witch haunting exercise,” he said.