NNPC CEO Mele Kyari secretly employs children of ex-President Buhari’s aides, top politicians

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has been accused of secretly recruiting over 200 new employees without recourse to extant guidelines.

In an article published by Saharareporters, the recruitment occurred between the period of January and February 2023 by the Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.

According to report, persons who benefited from the secret recruitment included children of personal aides and ministers of former President Muhammadu Buhari, family members of senior government officials, lawmakers, and serving and past governors.

It was disclosed that children and relatives of the Personal Assistant on Domestic Affairs to Ex-President Buhari, Sarki Abba were part of the secret recruitment.

This recruitment has raised concerns from staff of the agency who alleged the newly appointed were positioned above them.

An employee of NNPC told SaharaReporters, “Over 200 people were secretly recruited here in NNPC to the position of Deputy Manager and Manager without following due process. The Group CEO of NNPC, Mele Kyari secretly recruited these people who are children of top politicians in the former administration without following the laid down rule which is against the public service act.

“Kyari unilaterally handed employment letters to these individuals without any competency aptitude test or interview, they are all children of top politicians of the Buhari’s administration and children of friends and family members.

“If you recall that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIA) was passed into law for more transparency and accountability in NNPC but the reverse is the case, the PIA has given the group CEO enormous powers that he now runs NNPC as his personal company without recourse to any law, because as it stands now, nobody is checking him and he does whatever he likes.

“A lot of my colleagues from SS4 to SS1 were denied promotion by Kyari, only for him to recruit inexperienced people as Deputy Manager and Manager at the detriment of experienced hands, this is quite unfortunate.

“Many staff members of NNPC are not happy with the way the company is being managed by Kyari, so we are calling on President Bola Tinubu and relevant authorities to revoke the appointment letters and due process should be followed.”

Confirming the secret recruitment, Garba Deen Muhammad, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC on his part told the media, that only a few people were employed.

“As a CAMA company we conduct our activities based on business needs and we are not obliged to follow dictates other than what serves our business needs and in accordance with our vision, mission and values,” Muhammad told SaharaReporters.

“Thus as a matter of exigency, NNPC resorted to headhunting. Based on specific skill needs, the company employed a few people (about 20). NNPC did not employ 200 as you mentioned.”