THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has debunked media reports that it has commenced retrenchment of its workers after transitioning to a commercially driven entity.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Department of the NNPC Ltd., Garba Deen Muhammad, said in a statement he issued today that there was no such move by the company.
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“NNPC Limited has not, and is not planning to lay off a single staff member as a result of the transitioning of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to NNPC Limited.
“The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 is very clear that no staff will lose his/her job, or earn less than what they earn before the transition,” it added.
Before the statement was issued, there had been several media reports that the NNPC Ltd had offered a “tempting” package to workers willing to accept voluntary retirement.
The reports were contrary to the assurance given at the inauguration of the NNPC Ltd by its Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, that none of the company’s 7,000 workers would be sacked, stressing that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) did not prescribe such a measure.
“We do not have a bloated workforce. Today, the company’s workers population is just 7,000. I believe that with the expansion, we have a line of sight. We are going to hire more people to work for us.
“The law has also provided that no one is going to leave this company. Everybody’s work is preserved. Their benefits are preserved. So, no matter for concern for the workers of this company,” Kyari had said.
Harrison Edeh is a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, always determined to drive advocacy for good governance through holding public officials and businesses accountable.