The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) unit 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 (NNPC Ltd).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had named Aminu Said Ahmed currently a senior manager at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) as the MPR’s delegate on the NNPC Ltd board. However, this appointment has been met with significant resistance from within the ministry, with the NLC chapter asserting that it contravenes specific provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Labour Union Demands Reversal of Appointment
In a video that has since gone viral, members of the union voiced their dissatisfaction, stating unequivocally that “Aminu Said Ahmed is not a staff of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.” Their objection centers on the legal framework guiding board appointments, particularly Section 59(2)(d) of the PIA, which stipulates that the ministry’s representative must be a serving official not below the rank of director within the MPR.
The union insists that since Ahmed neither works within the ministry nor holds the required rank, his appointment is both inappropriate and unlawful. They are calling for an immediate reversal of the decision and the nomination of a qualified, high-ranking ministry official in his place.
Experts Support Union’s Position
Energy analyst Abolade Adewale, speaking on behalf of a group of concerned industry professionals, echoed the NLC’s concerns. He emphasized that the PIA’s intent is clear: only a senior official from the MPR not an outsider from an independent regulatory agency should represent the ministry on the NNPC board.
“The NMDPRA operates independently and is structurally separate from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources,” Adewale explained. “Appointing someone from NMDPRA to represent the MPR on such a critical board undermines both the law and institutional credibility.”
He further pointed out the example of the Federal Ministry of Finance, which complies with the law by appointing its Permanent Secretary to the same board. The MPR, he said, should adopt a similar approach for consistency and fairness.
Broader Concerns About Representation and Nepotism
Beyond the specific case of the NNPC board, the NLC chapter also raised issues regarding how the MPR is represented in global energy platforms, including the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Union members criticized the growing trend of assigning non-ministry personnel to key international roles. They warned that such appointments, often driven by favoritism or political considerations, risk weakening the institutional memory and integrity of Nigeria’s energy policy representation.
Adewale advised that all nominations for international petroleum-related assignments be drawn exclusively from serving ministry officials. These selections, he said, should be made through formal processes led by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, in accordance with the law.
Call for Presidential Review
In light of these concerns, the NLC and other stakeholders are appealing to President Tinubu to revisit the appointment of Aminu Said Ahmed. They are urging the president to choose a properly ranked official from within the MPR—ideally the Permanent Secretary—to fill the board position in question.
Their appeal is rooted in a belief that President Tinubu, known for his responsiveness to legitimate grievances, will act in the best interest of legal and institutional integrity.
“President Tinubu has consistently shown a willingness to listen to reason and uphold the rule of law,” one union representative said. “We trust that he will take the necessary steps to ensure full compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act and safeguard the professionalism of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.”
