NLC protests non-MPR staff appointed to NNPC Board

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) chapter within the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (MPR) has strongly opposed the recent appointment of Aminu Said Ahmed as the ministry’s representative on the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

IDOMA VOICE reports that President Bola Tinubu appointed Ahmed—a senior manager from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)—to represent the ministry on the NNPCL board.

However, the NLC chapter has rejected the appointment, insisting it breaches the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

In a video that has circulated widely, union members voiced their displeasure, stressing that “he is not a staff of the Ministry of Petroleum.” Their objection is rooted in Section 59(2)(d) of the PIA, which states that the ministry’s representative on the NNPC board must be an official not below the rank of director within the MPR.

The union is calling for the immediate reversal of Ahmed’s appointment, emphasizing that his current role as a senior manager at NMDPRA—an independent regulatory agency—fails to meet the statutory criteria.

Energy analyst Abolade Adewale, speaking on behalf of concerned professionals, backed the union’s position. He emphasized that Ahmed’s appointment clearly contravenes the PIA’s requirements.

“The Act specifies that the NNPC Ltd board must include a representative from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources not below the rank of director. Aminu Said Ahmed is neither a director nor a ministry staff,” he said.

Adewale also noted the structural distinction between NMDPRA and the MPR, arguing that allowing officials from an external regulatory body to represent the ministry erodes institutional boundaries and accountability.

The NLC chapter drew comparisons with the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), whose representative on the same board is the Permanent Secretary—an appointment that aligns with the PIA. They urged President Tinubu to ensure a similar level of representation for the MPR by appointing a high-ranking official, preferably its Permanent Secretary.

The union also raised concerns about how non-ministry officials are frequently chosen to represent Nigeria in global petroleum bodies, such as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

They criticized what they described as a trend driven by nepotism, warning that it undermines both institutional memory and the nation’s credibility in international engagements.

“We respectfully request that all nominations for international petroleum-related functions be made strictly from among serving MPR officials through formal appointment by the Minister, as prescribed by law,” Adewale added.

The NLC chapter and other stakeholders are calling on President Tinubu to intervene and reverse the appointment of Aminu Said Ahmed. They insist that only a qualified, high-ranking MPR official should be appointed to the NNPC Ltd board, in line with legal and institutional standards.

Expressing faith in the President’s leadership, they believe he will take necessary corrective steps to uphold the spirit and letter of the PIA.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always shown responsiveness to lawful concerns, and we trust he will act to preserve the integrity of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021,” they concluded.