Northern faction stands by Tinubu in NNPCL dispute

Addressing Allegations of Ethnic Bias in NNPCL

The Concerned Northern Forum has addressed recent allegations of ethnic bias in the recruitment and operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The group has warned against attempts to exploit these issues to fuel regional divisions and undermine national unity. At a press conference in Kaduna, the Convener of the forum, Aliyu Muhammad, emphasized that the claims were misleading and aimed at creating unnecessary tension.

Muhammad stated that the forum had reviewed the allegations alongside clarifications issued by the national oil company before arriving at its position. He rejected any attempt to use the activities of NNPCL to divide Nigerians along regional lines. “Nigeria cannot afford narratives that undermine national unity at a time when collective progress should be our priority,” he said.

Clarifying Recruitment Practices

According to Muhammad, the reports sought to pitch the North against the South by misrepresenting the activities of an institution that belongs to all Nigerians. He explained that contrary to the allegations, NNPCL had not conducted any recent recruitment or appointed senior management staff. The appointments referenced in the reports were made in the third quarter of 2025 and publicly announced at the time.

“It is grossly misleading to resurrect a recruitment exercise that is nearly a year old and link it to the Employee Exit Scheme that took effect on June 30, 2026. These are two separate corporate events,” he stressed. The forum maintained that the 2025 recruitment followed a competitive headhunting process approved under the company’s workforce policy to fill critical vacancies requiring specialized expertise.

Merit-Based Recruitment Process

The recruitment process was described as merit-driven, competency-based, and designed to strengthen the company’s ongoing transformation agenda. “The process was strictly merit-driven, competency-based and tied to approved workforce plans. The suggestion that competence should be sacrificed for any other consideration is an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians who desire a national oil company that works,” he added.

Muhammad also criticized the inclusion of names of employees who joined the company before the current management assumed office, describing it as a deliberate attempt to sensationalize the issue and mislead the public.

Frontier Oil Exploration in Northern Nigeria

On concerns over frontier oil exploration in Northern Nigeria, Muhammad stated that NNPCL had not suspended funding for exploration activities in the region. He explained that under the Petroleum Industry Act, responsibility for funding frontier exploration rests with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, while NNPCL remains responsible for carrying out exploration activities in line with regulatory directives.

“The Kolmani Integrated Development Project and other frontier basin projects are strategic national priorities, and the company is actively engaging partners and stakeholders to move them forward in a commercially viable manner,” he said. Muhammad urged Northerners not to interpret the current funding arrangement as a deliberate attempt to sideline the region.

Confidence in Governance Structures

The forum reaffirmed its confidence in the governance structure of NNPCL, insisting that appointments and investment decisions were subject to rigorous oversight under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the Petroleum Industry Act, and the company’s internal governance framework. “We have seen no evidence to suggest these structures have been breached,” Muhammad stated.

The group called on Nigerians to verify information through official channels and avoid spreading unverified claims capable of undermining national cohesion. It also commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the legal and policy framework that had strengthened accountability and commercial governance within NNPCL.

Ongoing Workforce Restructuring

The controversy came amid discussions surrounding NNPCL’s ongoing workforce restructuring, including an employee exit scheme implemented on June 30, 2026. However, NNPCL has insisted that no fresh recruitments were carried out in connection with the restructuring programme and has maintained that its recruitment and investment decisions are guided by merit, corporate governance principles, and the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.

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