A House of Representatives Member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, Hon Preye Oseke, has taken the Eni Group to task over the imminent civil disorder and breakdown of law across the Niger Delta, arising from he called “skewed internal operations” of the Agip.
Oseke’s complaints are contained in a letter, dated June 23, 2022, signed by the lawmaker who is also deputy chairman, House Committee on petroleum resources (Upstream), addressed to the managing director, Eni Group, Piazza Ezio Vanoni, in Milan, Italy.
According to the lawmaker, more than one year after the first official complaints were lodged, the status quo has remained.
‘’No efforts have been made by NAOC’s management to effect meaningful changes, with respect to the company’s skewed internal operations,’’ he said.
It would be recalled that the National Assembly members from NAOC operating states in the Niger Delta, had in June last year, drew the attention of the management, to abuse of the federal character principle in her operations, pointing out that virtually all senior management positions are occupied by personnel from one ethnic group.
They described the development as unconstitutional and a breach of Sections 14(3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, on the application of federal character principle, and demanded that the scenario be “reversed and corrected, as it was capable of throwing the trio States into chaos that will negatively impact the company’s operations in the region.”
Hon Oseke stated that following the failure of Eni Group to address the issues, affected staff members and their respective communities have resumed subtle reminders, even agitations in some cases – an experience they noted was becoming heightened and tensed by the day.
“About a year ago, several official complaints were received from constituents in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States, all of which reported the skewed internal operations of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
“The experience of other federal lawmakers from the Niger Delta region was not any different. This was the backdrop against which, ten (10) federal legislators made frantic efforts at checking the likely breakdown of law and order in the region, at the time.
‘’Some of such legislative interventions included holding meetings with NAOC management, in which appeals were made, with corresponding promises from your company to act swiftly. Based on such assurances that were received from NAOC, legislators reverted to constituents, reassuring them of a soon-coming change.
“Sadly, however, the status quo had remained till now, as no efforts have been made by NAOC’s management to effect meaningful changes with respect to the company’s skewed internal operations. As such, affected staff members and their respective communities have resumed subtle reminders, even agitations in some cases, an experience that is becoming heightened and tense by the day.
“Hence, this appeal seeks to both remind you of commitments, assurance and promises NAOC had made earlier, the need to act on prayers, as they appear in the attached letter, and timely too. Indeed, this is the panacea to forestall the looming breakdown of law and order,” the lawmaker said.
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