Soji Ajibola, Ibadan
Aggrieved youths and other stakeholders from the various host communities may shutdown the operations of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, (NAOC) in the Niger Delta region over an alleged breach of the Federal Character Principle in the recruitment of staff into all cadres.
The Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources, (Upstream) and member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency, Bayelsa state, Preye Oseke had in a petition urged the multinational oil company to put necessary machineries in motion to avert the impending civil disorder and breakdown of law and order across the region.
The lawmaker in a petition addressed to the Managing Director, Eni Group, Piazza Ezio regretted the inaction of the Company over the matter after being notified of the development a year ago.
Oseke disclosed that the Company has been intimated with the development but had allowed the sad status quo to remain a year after.
The National Assembly, as contained in the letter had in June 2021 drew the attention of the management to abuse of the Federal character principle in its operations.
It pointed out that virtually all senior management positions are occupied by personnel from one ethnic group.
They described the development as a breach of sections 14(3 and (4) of the federal Republic of Nigeria as amended on the application of Federal character principle, and demanded that the scenario be reversed and corrected as it was capable of throwing the three states into chaos that will negatively impact the company’s operations in the region.
The letter read in part, ‘About a year ago, several official complaints were received from constituents in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states, all of which reported the skewed internal operations of the Nigeria Agip oil Company, (NAOC) limited.
“The experience of other federal lawmakers from the Niger Delta region was not any different.
“This was the backdrop against which ten (10) federal legislators made frantic efforts at checking the likely breakdown of law and order in the region, at the time.
“Some of such legislative interventions included holding meetings with NAOC management in which appeals were made, with corresponding promises from your company to act swiftly.
“Based on such assurances that were received from NAOC, legislators reverted to constituents, reassuring them of a soon-coming change.
“Sadly, however, the status quo had remained till now, as no efforts have been made by NAOC’s management to effect meaningful changes with respect to the company’s skewed internal operations. As such, affected staff members and their respective communities have resumed subtle reminders, even agitations in some cases, an experience that is becoming heightened and tensed by the day.
“Hence this appeal seeks to both remind you of commitments, assurance and promises NAOC had made earlier, the need to act on prayers as they appear in the attached letter, and timely too. Indeed, this is the panacea to forestall the looming breakdown of law and order.”
