New NNPC Boss Assures On Oil And Gas Sector Reforms, Says More Jobs Are Coming

The new Group Managing Director of NNPC, Alhaji Mohammed Barkindo, has said that on going oil and gas  sector reforms will create more job opportunities rather than lead to job losses.
 Barkindo gave the assurance shortly afterrecieving hand pover notes from his successor Alhaji Abubakar Yar’Adua and meeting with  members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Employers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN)
He assured  that “for NUPENG and PENGASSAN members, the Oil and Gas Implementation Committee (OGIC) report is not about job losses but the creation of more jobs across board.
“The report has recommended the creation of 11industry institutions and seven joint ventures. So, it is not about job cuts but increased opportunities,” Barkindo said.
He said the report also sought to harmonise the conditions of service across all the industry institutions and make job mobility easier.
“This is the only place you can have the crop of qualified professionals who can cross over to other institutions without job losses,’’ the GMD said.
Barkindo said the reform expectations were that every oil company must prospect, exploit and produce its oil, process the petroleum products and take them to the consumers.
“We are not currently performing satisfactorily in any of these three areas. Furthermore, the development of human capital is central in our operations to drive the reforms.
“The challenges may be intimidating or ambitious but I remain confident that we can do it and yes, we can or can’t we?.
“This is a momentous occasion. A new crop of managers will be evolving as change agents to drive the transformation,” Barkindo said.