Kachikwu: NNPC’s Restructuring to Start Yielding Result within 60 Days

No ethnic agenda in appointments, retirements
Ex GED, Okon appointed IIPELP CEO
Chineme Okafor in Abuja

The ongoing restructuring of operations and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), will be translated into concrete milestones to the appreciation of all Nigerians within the next 60 days.

Its Group Managing Director (GMD), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu who stated this in a statement Friday added that the entire corporation’s Strategic Business Units (SBUs) and refineries must now begin to operate as profit centres.

He noted that the days when activities in the corporation was run and perceived as a civil service organisation instead of a going concern that should give out profits and values to its shareholders were over.

Kachikwu stated that his administration of the corporation’s affairs would ensure that its four refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt are run efficiently and profitably to meet the energy needs of Nigeria.

He said while soliciting the support of the corporation’s top management in the ongoing reform exercise that is expected to turn it into an efficient and profit-oriented Organisation that efforts are in top gear to create conducive working environment for all staff of the NNPC.
According to him, the corporation needs an upgrade of the morale of its workforce to transform into a profit centre like its peers in other climes. He thus urged the top management cadre to provide leadership by example to the workforce.

Kachikwu added that unhealthy workplace practices such as sectionalism, tribalism and any form of non-transparent transactions must be completely stamped out of the NNPC.

In this regards, the NNPC boss requested the corporation’s staff to act as change agents, assuring that some of the strategic targets of the corporation would be translated into concrete milestones to the appreciation of all Nigerians within the next 60 days.

Similarly, the corporation has decried alleged attempts by a section of the media to tag ethnic colouration to the recent restructuring exercise it embarked on.

The corporation while debunking reports that the exercise was made to favour certain interests, said that the appointments were made with the express approval of President Muhammadu Buhari and in compliance with extant laws regarding federal character.

It also noted that the retirement exercise affected all those who were to retire between now and 2016 without any regard to ethnicity or state of origin.

“The recent appointments, promotions, and retirements are all a part of the ongoing restructuring exercise aimed repositioning the corporation into a lean, efficient, profit-driven organisation in line with international best practices without regard to primordial sentiments,” the statement stated, urging the general public to discountenance any report aimed at denigrating the ongoing reorganisation exercise in the corporation.

Immediate Past NNPC GED, Okon Appointed IIPELP CEO…
Meanwhile, the immediate past acting Group Executive Director (GE), Exploration and Production at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Timothy Okon has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy (IIPELP) Group.

Okon was until last week, the acting GED Exploration and Production as well as Group Coordinator, Corporate Planning and Strategy at the NNPC.

He would now superintend the affairs of IIPELP, a think-tank that provides institutional and structural support to the energy sector of Africa and Nigeria.

A statement announcing his appointment was provided in Abuja by the IIPELP Group Company Secretary, Mrs. Valerie Arikpo-Ettah on Friday.

Okon from the statement will immediately have to manage a strategic partnership which IIPELP recently entered into with United Kingdom’s British Integrated Solutions Network (BISEN). The main objectives of the partnership are to translate strategy and policy into successful capability through business solutions, especially in the maritime and energy sectors.

BISEN from the statement consists of 39 UK registered companies that conform to international best practices in areas of operations. Accordingly, the network is actively supported by Her Majesty Government Departments, through strict governance and reporting framework.

Also, the statement announced the appointment of Mr. Allan Martin, a British, as the Managing Director of Petgas Global Consulting Limited, one of the operating companies in the IIPELP Group.

It said that Martin will in his new capacity continue to be the IIPELP Group’s interface with both BISEN and UK government agencies.
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