Fresh crisis hits NNPC as CEO Mele Kyari, CFO Ajiya allegedly pay themselves billions of Naira as gratuities

Report indicates that crisis has hit the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited over the alleged payment of gratuity to Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari and the Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya respectively.

According to Saharareporters, multiple sources told the media portal that despite still in service, Kyari and his CFO have paid themselves billions of naira as gratuity.

Mele Kyari replaced Maikanti Baru as the new Group Managing Director (GMD), now known as the Group CEO of NNPC. He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

It was said that some of the top officials of the NNPC were also paid as they made this move over fear of being retired or removed by the incoming government.

A source said; “Isn’t this corruption? Our Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari and the Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya paid themselves gratuity running into billions of naira while still in active service which is against the public service rules.”

“With the petroleum industry act that was passed by the National Assembly, NNPC transited into a limited liability company with share capital for more transparency and accountability and to be a profit driven organization. But unfortunately under Kyari and Ajiya, the reverse is the case.

“The fear that they may be sacked or asked to go on retirement suddenly made these two individuals to pay themselves humongous gratuity while still in active service.

“They are both running NNPC as their personal company because nobody is checkmating the both of them.”

The source further said; “The PIA act has created a lacuna by giving the group CEO and CFO enormous powers to run the organisation without recourse to the President. Same Umar Ajiya retired from NLNG before joining NNPC, guess what? He was paid gratuity in NLNG and now he has paid himself another gratuity which is against the public service law while still in active service with the corporation.”

Staff of NNPC has also expressed disappointment at the way the company was being managed by Kyari, the source said.

“He and Umar Ajiya they are running the company like their personal fiefdom; our morale is down at the moment. We are calling on President Buhari to constitute a committee investigate the massive corruption being perpetuated by Kyari and Ajiya. We are ready to provide documents to the committee to prove the massive corruption on the bogus fuel subsidy claims where they collect kickbacks, the aviation fuel racketeering which is being handled by the CFO and the crude oil for product swap scam (DSDP/CODPA) Scam,” the source added.

Saharareporters said that efforts to reach Garba Deen Muhammad, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC to comment on the reports proved futile.

BS