Ibe Kachikwu, minister of State for Petroleum Resources, is in the eye of the storm. He had alleged Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, awarded $25 billion contracts unilaterally and made appointments without consultations, amongst others. The allegations initially raised concerns within certain circles, but the ride seems to be turning against Kachickwu now.
Baru seems to have turned the table against Kachickwu.
that Baru awarded $25 billion contracts unilaterally and made appointments without consultations, amongst others
Baru has since released a fact-sheet on the contentious issues to the public. Baru said no money was lost and neither was any process breached in the $25 billion contract figure raised by Kachikwu.
Baru explained that as a former chairman of the NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee, it was impossible for him to breach the procurement process by disregarding extant laws and rules. He said the NNPC Act and the Public Procurement Act vested procurement powers in the NNPC Tenders Board, the President and the Federal Executive Council, FEC, depending on the cost threshold, and that the NNPC Board had no role whatsoever in the process.
“I know for those of you who are following what we are doing here, you know that there’s no money lost and no process has been breached,” Baru told Francis Johnson, National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, who paid him a solidarity visit yesterday.
Baru said, “Our contracting process is perfect and we will continue to follow the process. The NNPC Board has no role, I repeat, has no role as far as the contracting process is concerned.”
Johnson said the unions’ support for Baru was based on his ability to walk his talk since assuming office last year. “The National body of PENGASSAN and all the NNPC in-house unions are here today to show our support for you. You have brought stability to the NNPC and we are happy today that staff morale is high. You were Chairman of NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee for over five years and that was what informed your appointment as GMD of NNPC. Today, all the bullets you are taking are on behalf of members of staff. We will continue to pray for you, God will continue to guide and shield you,” said Johnson.