 |
|
Louis Brown
Ogbeifun (Image source: LinkedIn)
|
Comrade Brown Ogbeifun,
until his retirement last month, was Industrial Relations Manager, Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. He was also the President of the Petroleum and
Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the First
Deputy President General of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC.
As
a Unionist, he served in committees such as Committee on Socio-Economic Impact
of Downstream Deregulation in Nigeria, Committee on the Privatization of NNPC
Downstream Sector, among others. Today, Ogbeifun is the President of the
Institute of Mediation and Conciliation; Nigeria
In
this interview, he speaks about the new management’s re-positioning in NNPC,
reforms in the oil sector, corruption among others.
SweetCrude Interview Excerpts:
What do you think are the
challenges confronting the nation’s oil and gas industry?
Generally,
the oil and gas industry in Nigeria has faced its most difficult times in the
last decade. NNPC being a key player in the sector has unfortunately been the
most brutalized and maligned by the Nigerian State.
When
one takes a cursory and reflective appraisal of the spate of criticisms against
the NNPC against the backdrop of the fact that oil and gas have been used as a
potent tool for the socio-economic advancement of Norway, Brazil, Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, Qatar, Malaysia; one cannot but empathize with the informed, who
falsely accuse NNPC of ills perpetrated by the same government that should
protect her; and the uninformed who innocently castigate NNPC workers for no
fault of theirs.
Whereas
other oil producing nations have efficient, effective, reliable and enviable
infrastructure, health, educational and agricultural systems with sustainable
industrial growth, Nigeria’s case reflects a paradox of these ideals.
The
desire of the country was to increase the National Oil Reserve base from 36.22
billion barrels to 40 billion barrels with a daily production of 4.5 million
barrels by the year 2010. Five years over and above that timeline, we are not
doing up to half of that expected optimum because of cyclical and vicious
cycles of vandalism, massive crude oil theft and lack of serious direction as
typified by the conspiracy of the ruling class in the non-passage of the PIB.
There
is no gain saying that Nigeria has lost dominant grip on her oil and gas
business. Nigeria has remained a net importer of dollar-driven white petroleum
products, instead of the other way round. Ever before the slump of crude oil
prices, the level of profits in the older Joint Venture agreements had
drastically reduced.
The
governors not benefiting maximally from the beggarly Nigerian rent economic
system, which has worsened with the slump in crude oil price, made it easier
for the NNPC to be consigned to the slaughterhouse.
With
the above sordid state and the forecast that the present oil reserve is
expected to last for just a little above thirty years, if no additional reserve
is added, one has to be worried stiff for the future of the country. There is
nothing in the horizon that points to any serious plans for diversification and
growth of other sectors. Worst still, the games of crude theft and vandalism of
petroleum pipeline products are not abating. It is for these reasons that every
right thinking person must support the oil and gas initiatives of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
The
new GMD of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has been given the marching others to recover
some “lost trillions”. We should support him to effectively carry out his
mandate.
While
this goes on, I hope that every inch of this journey shall not be vindictive or
opaque. It must be so transparent to the extent that even if past Heads of
States or Presidents are identified in the findings by any of the Committees
set up by the Federal Government on NNPC or other oil and gas related issues,
the names of the culprits must be published and they should be made to face the
wrath of the law. Let the workers’ teeth not ache for the apple eaten by the
political class through systemic and cyclical political maneuvers.
If
this government truly wants to reposition the oil and gas industry for the
future we all dream of, it must be ready to go beyond the window dressing of
untimely retirements of hardworking innocent staff; and deal with the tap root
of the endemic political interference in the running of the NNPC, which has
become the Achilles heels of the organization.
How do you think the rot
in industry can be addressed?
There
is no doubt also that there is still lack of clarity in the current financial
regimes, royalties and taxes in the oil and gas sector. This is vivid with the
confusing and conflicting figures reeled out during reconciliation processes
among the agencies responsible for the receipts of the funds meant for the
federation account. While the anti-corruption mantra of the government should
be encouraged and supported albeit as regards the NNPC, all actions should be
cautiously taken in the restructuring, reorganization or re-positioning of the
NNPC. The actors involved in this process should be guided by a sense of
history and Mr.
President’s
promises of creating and not destroying job. It is therefore, an imperative
that whatever must be done to clean up the rot in the oil and gas industry,
every inch of the journey must be transparent, not selective and must display
utmost respect for the dignity of man.
The proposed use of
forensic audit to investigative process of all the agencies involved in the oil
and gas inflows and outflows is a welcome development. However, this anti-
corruption drive must not be selective. This government must go beyond 2010 if
it is sincere in truly ridding the country of corruption.
No comments:
Post a Comment