As President Muhammad Buhari delves into the substantive issues concerning the administration of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation which have been brought to the fore by Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, several sources have disclosed push back to the claims from the GMD’s team are in full effect.
Notably, one source anonymously told Punch news, that Kachikwu is not recognized by the NNPC Act as Chairman of the board of the corporation, as the Act recognizes the Minister for Petroleum and not the Minister of State for Petroleum.
The matter seen as a technical point may be discarded by President Muhammed Buhari, who doubles as the Minister for Petroleum. Buhari was on sick leave for more than 3 months earlier this year, and insiders believe Makanti Baru, the NNPC GMD should have deferred to Kachikwu during the President’s absence.
In addition, President Buhari named Kachikwu as the Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation board in July 2016.
A source told Punch, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Act does not recognise a minister of state. The act is explicit that the petroleum minister is the chairman of the NNPC board.”
“The NNPC GMD reports to the corporation board chairman, who of course, is the President. He (Baru) goes to the chairman because that is what the Act says.”