NNPC distances Kyari from claims of receiving gratuity worth billions while in service

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says claims that Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO), and Umar Ajiya, chief financial officer (CFO), are receiving gratuity worth billions of naira while in service are false.

On Wednesday, a report said Kyari and Ajiya paid themselves billions of naira as gratuity despite still in service over fears of being retired compulsorily by the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu, the president-elect.

Some other top officials of the NNPC were also said to have been paid.

According to the report, most of the staff were displeased with the way the corporation was being managed by Kyari.

“He and Umar Ajiya are running the company like their personal fiefdom; our morale is down at the moment. We are calling on President Buhari to constitute a committee to investigate the massive corruption being perpetuated by Kyari and Ajiya,” the report reads.

‘SPURIOUS AND MALICIOUS PUBLICATION’

In a counter statement, Garbadeen Muhammad, NNPC spokesperson, described the report as false and malicious.

Muhammad noted that based on the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the new tenured roles Kyari and Ajiya assumed with NNPC Limited cannot be regarded as a continuance of their previous positions in the defunct corporation.

He said the termination of their previous roles entitled them to gratuity benefits while they served in different positions under the new NNPC.

“The general public may recall the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act and the successful transition of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to a commercially driven National Energy Company, the NNPC Limited,” the statement reads.

The statement further said the appointment of Kyari and Ajiya as NNPC CEO and CFO, for a tenure of five years each, which took effect from September 16 2021, consequently led to the end of their employment with the corporation.

Therefore they are “entitled to their terminal benefits”.

“The new tenured roles they assumed with NNPC Limited cannot be regarded as a continuance of their previous positions in the defunct corporation.”

Muhammad asked the public to disregard the claims adding that the NNPC does not pay gratuity in billions.

He said the group CEO and CFO demonstrated patriotism by ending their career appointments with the corporation to serve the nation on five years tenured appointment in NNPC Limited.

The NNPC spokesperson said the company would take necessary legal steps to seek redress.