In the heart of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, tensions are escalating between Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and Felix Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), raising alarm over managerial decisions and organisational independence.
Recent developments within the NCDMB have exposed a clash of interests between Senator Lokpobiri and Ogbe, particularly regarding staff reshuffling and other crucial administrative matters. Sources close to the situation have disclosed that Senator Lokpobiri has issued a stern warning letter to Ogbe, citing violations of established regulations.
Documents obtained outline Senator Lokpobiri’s argument that the NCDMB Act did not empower the executive secretary to reassign or appoint managerial personnel. Instead, Senator Lokpobiri contends that such prerogatives squarely belong to the Board, which he chairs, for overseeing NCDMB management
The discord deepens as Ogbe recently announced significant personnel changes, including managerial redeployments, a move Senator Lokpobiri deemed inconsistent with the NCDMB Act. In response, Senator Lokpobiri has instructed affected staff to maintain their previous positions, effectively nullifying Ogbe’s directives.
Senator Lokpobiri had recently inaugurated the NCDMB’s governing council, chaired by himself, to supervise strategic decisions. Ogbe, serving as the council’s secretary, now finds himself at odds with the council’s leader regarding the extent of his authority within the organisation.
According to a source, “Do you know that the minister of state asked a junior staff of the ministry to call for a meeting tomorrow? “The secretariat is domiciled in the executive secretary’s office. The minister should ask him to call for the meeting and not inviting him through a Junior.”
In contrast, Executive Secretary Ogbe has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s issuance of three Presidential Executive Orders, aimed at incentivising the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Ogbe highlights the directives’ importance in promoting local content development, reducing contracting costs, and enhancing project execution efficiency.
Meanwhile, a Niger Delta-based group, Concerned Niger Delta Group (CNDG), has urged President Bola Tinubu, to intervene in the alleged interference of Lokpobiri, with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), leading to significant organisational challenges.
President of CNDG, Trueson Ogiri, in a statement, referenced recent concerns stemming from a purported heated dispute between NCDMB’s secretary, and the minister over staff redeployment, while accusing the latter of intruding into the organisation’s internal affairs, particularly in matters within the purview of the NCDMB secretary.
According to the group, the minister’s actions raise doubts about his intentions and the potential repercussions for the institution.
The NCDMB, responsible for enforcing policies to boost Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry, is seen as pivotal to the country’s efforts to enhance indigenous participation and economic growth.
Ogiri asserted that the minister’s involvement in staff redeployment decisions undermines the NCDMB’s autonomy and independence, as the secretary, tasked with overseeing the organisation’s day-to-day operations, has purportedly been overruled on multiple occasions when attempting to make staffing changes based on merit and organisational requirements.
The group also accused Lokpobiri of influencing decision-making by imposing his preferred candidates for specific positions without adequate justification.
Such interference, the group argued, undermines the NCDMB’s effectiveness, efficiency, and its ability to fulfill its mandate.
“Qualified and experienced employees for key roles are reportedly being overlooked, leading to demotivation and reduced productivity within the organisation. The NCDMB plays a critical role in regulating and developing local content in the oil and gas sector, thus its decision-making processes must adhere to competence, transparency, and established rules,” Ogiri added.
