Secret recruitment at NNPCL: Another bush telegraph, campaign of calumny, corporate governance can’t be compromised – Official

Contrary to some reports, Africa’s biggest oil firm, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd says secret recruitments as alleged without the approval of the board can be anything but the truth.

Under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the NNPC Ltd now has a standard recruitment structure that cannot be compromised. Secret recruitment is antithetical to corporate governance under which the company operates now, Persecondnews gathered.

“That report is fake. You cannot just wake up and start hiring people secretly at NNPC Limited. The company has a standard recruitment structure that cannot be bypassed; it’s a strong governance structure that no official can just manipulate,” an official source said on Friday.

“Remember that few days ago, some people were asked to proceed with retirement and you don’t expect some of them who still have about 15 months to retire to be happy for being asked to leave the system.

“So, it is possible that this secret recruitment claims could be coming from disgruntled people who are not happy with the retirement and restructuring that is going on in the company.

“But let me say that the management is well aware of the coordinated campaign of calumny against the leadership of the company and the management is not deterred about this as it is focused on its four `Mandate of production, production, production and production in line with the directive given by the president,” the official said.

Persecondnews recalls that from the rumour mill, secret recruitment is being pinned on the Group CEO of NNPCL, Mr Mele Kyari, after series of failed campaigns against his leadership of the national oil company since the inception of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

About 35 people were alleged to have been recruited “secretly’’into the company’s workforce and are either undergoing medical examinations or writing entrance exams.

However, investigation by this digital platform shows that no such recruitment exercise took place or is ongoing.

Following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), NNPC Ltd has successfully transitioned into a CAMA company which enabled it to have a compelling and strong governance structure that cannot be circumvented.

Under the structure, the best governance procedures apply when it comes to staff recruitment.