A network of Civil Society Organisations under the aegis of the Civil Society Network for Good Governance (CSNGG), has lauded what it described as laudable reforms introduced by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) under the leadership of Engineer Gbenga Komolafe.
The CSNGG which is an umbrella body of 87 CSOs in Nigeria said the reforms has repositioned the NUPRC in the promotion of sustainable value creation from Nigeria’s petroleum resources for shared prosperity.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Amb. Adefila Kama, president of the CSNGG, said it is aware that in its moves within and even outside NUPRC to sanitize the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, the Engineer Gbenga-led Commission per the plan of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came up with regulations to curb oil theft and losses through operational and administrative leakages.
“These regulations within a few months of it’s introduction have resulted in the transparent bridging of oil and gas products and price equalization management that have saved the government billions of naira,” Kama told journalists in Abuja.
According to him, NUPRC in less than a year of operation under the leadership of Engineer Gbenga has ensured strict adherence to all rules and regulations guiding approvals and issuance of licensing in the upstream sector.
He explained that the Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC did not only ensure due process was followed in every of the Commission’s dealings but also prioritized the wellbeing of his staff and management team.
He said further, “also, the commission has been praised for its sterling performance and ability to raise about N174 Billion in signature bonuses paid for marginal oil fields and developed regulatory initiatives within a short period.”
He said however, that the CSOs Network is also not unaware of the plot by a few members of the public who are anti-reform to bring the name of the Commission and that of the CEO to disrepute over fabricated and unsubstantiated claims.
According to Kama, these individuals have among others accused the management team led by Engineer Gbenga of non-remittance of pension deductions, poor working environment, and insufficient working tools.
He said, “This is a misrepresentation of facts, all evidence available to us showed that as one of the most experienced public servants who put in many years, Engineer Gbenga prioritize staff well-being and this is evident in many welfare packages he rolled out for them.
“We are also aware that some issues that bordered on staff welfare have either been addressed or are in the process of being addressed. So, why would anyone or group drag the Commission and its CEO’s name in the mud if not for their selfish corrupt ulterior motives?
“We know the antics, it’s all about playing the agenda of some external forces who are not happy with the smooth operations and success stories of the commission whose only job is to implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to the last line.”
