How Oil Ministry got here underneath the Presidency by Eric Teniola

Of all appointments to be made by the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, none will outline his presidency, greater than the appointment of Minister of Petroleum. There are Ministers and there are Ministers however the Minster of Petroleum on this nation is in a category of his personal.

She or he holds the important thing to the nation’s treasury. We will know by appointment the course of his authorities.

Petroleum subsidy to be to not be, our refineries, may have an awesome influence on our future and these are points that the following Petroleum Minister must decide.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has a number of selections over the appointment. He might appoint himself like Common Abdusalam Abubakar GCFR, President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR and President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR all did. Afterward, he’s from the oil trade. He might appoint somebody both inside or outdoors of the oil trade. Or he might appoint somebody from the South-South area in order to compensate to the individuals of that area. Afterward, the oil comes from their space. The Minister of Petroleum is not only an atypical individual on this nation or outdoors of this nation.

I keep in mind Sheikh Zaki Yamani (June 30, 1930-23 February 2021) who was the embodiment of the ascent of the Arab Petroleum Energy and the face of oil embargo of 1973, who introduced the Western world to its knees. I used to be within the Presidency through the Sani Abacha period and I knew the affect of the then Petroleum Minister, Senator Dan Dauzia Loya Etete(78). We nonetheless keep in mind the ability and affect of Mrs Diezani Ok. Agama Alison-Madueke(62) through the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency.

Allow us to check out the schedule of the Minister of Petroleum. My final examine confirmed that he has greater than twenty schedules of tasks. They’re formulation and implementation of insurance policies and programmes, supervising NNPCL, supervising Nationwide Petroleum Funding Administration Companies (NAPIMS), Crude Oil Issues, OPEC Issues, Nigerian Fuel Firm, Nigerian Liquefied Nationwide Fuel, Division of Petroleum Sources and Nigerian Petroleum Improvement Firm.

Different tasks are Built-in Information Companies, Eleme Petrochemicals Firm, Nationwide Engineering and Technical Firm, Petroleum Coaching Institute, Petroleum Equilisation Fund, Faculty of Petroleum Research, Chairman, Ministerial Tender’s Board and Postings, Analysis and Improvement(R & D), Abuja Places of work and Housing Tasks and African Petroleum Producers Affiliation Issues.

The seven businesses underneath the Minister of Petroleum Sources are Nigeria Nationwide Petroleum Company (NNPC) is now referred to as the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted established April 1 1977, Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Fee (NURC)—established August 16, 2012, Petroleum Coaching Institute (PTI) established 1973, Petroleum Expertise Improvement Fund (PTDF) established 1973, Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) established August 3 1999, Nigerian Content material Improvement Administration Board (NCDMB) established in 2010, and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) established August 16, 2021.

The powers of the minister of petroleum assets underneath the Petroleum Act prolong to all segments of the trade and span the coverage, regulatory and industrial spheres. For instance:within the industrial sphere, the minister is empowered to set the costs of petroleum merchandise; within the coverage sphere, the minister units the coverage priorities for the trade via coverage pronouncements and directives; and within the regulatory sphere, and arguably most significantly, the minister has in depth powers to make determinations, prescribe something required and make rules and insurance policies for the trade.

The minister is the apex regulator of the trade, imbued with large discretion. The Division of Petroleum Sources carries out the day-to-day regulation of the trade on the minister’s behalf.

The end result of the minister’s powers within the industrial sphere and his apparent battle of curiosity could also be seen in his appointment as chair of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Company (NNPC), the nationwide oil firm.

To my information the Minister of State for Petroleum or particular adviser to the President on Petroleum issues could perform any of those schedules as could also be delegated by the Minister of Petroleum. No marvel Common Abdusalam Abubakar (80), President Olusegun Obasanjo(86) and President Muhammadu Buhari(80) positioned the Ministry of Petroleum Sources underneath their direct supervision.

In 2002, the then Home of the Representatives, underneath the management of Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’Abba(64) from Tudun Wada Constituency in Kano queried President Obasanjo for appointing himself as Minister of Petroleum. That was when the Home of Representatives might bark and chew in contrast to now when the Speaker of the Home of Consultant is the one opening the door of the plane for the President Elect.

The question then was that “Mr. President has refused to nominate a Minister of Petroleum Sources which motion has occasioned the next: (a) that since inception of this Authorities in 1999 Mr. President refused, failed and or uncared for to nominate a Minster of Petroleum Sources opposite to the Petroleum Act cap 350, legal guidelines of the Federation as amended by the Petroleum (Modification) Act No. 22 of 1998 and thereby authorizing the efficiency of or performing your self the capabilities of the Minister of Petroleum Sources (b) that in breach of Part 9 (1) d III legal guidelines of the Federation 1990 appointed the Committee which has elevated the costs of petroleum merchandise which operate is that of a Minister of Petroleum Sources underneath the mentioned Act, which Act constitutes a gross misconduct (c) {that a} course of of creating the refineries via bidding was established and provisional licenses have been issued with out the approval of the Minister of Petroleum as required by 3 (1) of the Petroleum Act which Motion quantities to gross misconduct”.

President Olusegun Obasanjo’s response was that “Underneath Part 5 of the 1999 Structure, the Government powers of the Federation are vested within the President who could train similar immediately or via the Vice President, Ministers or officers within the public service of the Federation. It’s obvious from the wordings of this part that it’s inside my discretion to train these powers immediately or delegate similar to sure functionaries.

In the identical vein, Part 147 (1) of the Structure makes provision for such places of work of the Ministers of the Authorities of the Federation as could also be established by the President. This clearly provides me the discretion over which workplace of Minister to ascertain. The Structure doesn’t specify the Ministries which I’ve to ascertain or the powers which I could delegate to Ministers.

It’s due to this fact inside my constitutional powers to decide on to not set up the workplace of the Minister of Petroleum Sources and immediately train govt management over petroleum issues. It’s immaterial that the workplace of Minister of Petroleum Sources is offered for within the Petroleum Act because the provisions of the Structure take priority over that of an current regulation within the occasion of a battle”.

President Olusegun Obansanjo GCFR made his reply on September 7, 2002.

The appointment of Petroleum Minister on this nation has at all times generated controversy.

The pioneer Minister of Petroleum was Colonel Muhammadu Buhari GCFR in 1977. It was throughout his tenure that THE PUNCH Newspaper revealed an alleged lack of 2.8 billion naira oil income in 1977. Chief Festus Remilekun Ayodele Marinho (December 30, 1934- January 21, 2021), Papal Knight of St. Sylvester, was then the Managing Director of the NNPC.

In 1977, the navy head of state, Lt. Common Olusegun Obasanjo, arrange a crude oil gross sales tribunal to analyze the operations of the Nigerian Nationwide Oil Firm (NNOC), which metamorphosed into NNPC similar yr. The tribunal discovered that in three years, NNOC had failed to gather its fairness share of oil produced by Shell, Mobil and Gulf. As a three way partnership associate, NNOC was entitled to 182.95 million barrels of oil manufacturing. However NNOC didn’t discover consumers for its personal share, thereby dropping a possible revenue of $2.8 billion.

The best way and method the press reported the story angered Colonel Muhammadu Buhari.

When he turned the top of state on December 31, 1983, he promulgated Decree 4 which gagged the press. By way of the decree he jailed my pals, Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor of THE GUARDIAN Newspaper.

A number of journalists together with myself and Folu Olamiti have been detained.

Professor Tamunoemi Sokari David-West (August 26, 1936 – November 11, 2019) was appointed Minister of Petroleum by Common Muhammadu Buhari between 1984 and 1985. On September 12, 1985, Common Ibrahim Babangida swore in his first cupboard. Amongst these appointed Ministers at the moment have been Lt-Common Julius Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, Lt-Colonel Tanko Ayuba, Main Common Domkat Bali, Professor Jubril Aminu, Rear Admiral Patrick Koshoni, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Main-Common Mamman Vatsa, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Alhaji Lawal Mala, Lt-Colonel Anthony Ukpo, Lt-Colonel John Nanzip Shagaya, Prince Bola Ajibola, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, Dr. Chu Okongu, Professor Tam David-West, Lt-Colonel Ahmed Abdullahi, Professor Emanuel Emovon, Air-Vice Marshal Ishaya Aboi Shekari, Majoe Common Gado Nasko, Brigadier Jeremiah Useni and Air Commodore Hmaza Abdullahi.

Common Babangida retained Professor Tam David-West as oil Minister.

He was finally eliminated as a minister and arrested by the Babangida regime for allegedly contributing to the financial adversity of the nation; He was discharged and acquitted of those expenses by Nigeria’s Particular Enchantment Courtroom on 8 August 1991.

In 1986, Common Babangida appointed Dr. Rilwanu Lukman (26 August 1938 – 21 July 2014) because the Minister of Petroleum Sources, holding that place till February 1990. In that function, he was additionally chairman of the board of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Company.

Within the transitional Council appointed in 1993 and headed by Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan GCFR (9 Could 1936 – 11 January 2022), a retired Federal Everlasting Secretary, Chief Phillip Asiodu was made the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Sources, Alhaji Hassan Hadeja was made Minister of State for Petroleum and Mineral Sources.

On assuming energy, Common Sani Abacha appointed Chief Donald Etiebet as Minister of Petroleum. Chief Etiebet was a brother to the late Senator Donald Duke Etiebet, my superb pal who was elected the governor of Cross Rivers State in 1983. They’re each from Ikot Ekpuk, now in Akwa Ibom state.

In 1995 Common Abacha GCFR (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) eliminated Chief Etiebet and changed him with Senator Dan Etete. Chief Etete introduced a variety of controversy to that Ministry. There was a time he had a quarrel with the then Minister of Finance, Chief Etubom Anthony Ani (86), the son of Chief Michael Ani, the previous Chairman of the Federal Electoral Fee, FEDECO.. The quarrel turned entrance web page information in most newspapers with each of them accusing one another and Chief Etete threatened to “dance bare on the road” over the difficulty.

After the sudden demise of Common Sani Abacha on 8 June 1998, Common Abdusalam Abubakar took over.

On August 22, 1998, Common Abdusalam swore in his cupboard. This was how THE NEW YORK TIMES captured the occasion the next day. The story was titled NIGERIAN STRONGMAN NAMES A CABINET.

“Nigeria’s ruler, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, launched the names of his navy and civilian Cupboard at this time, however nobody was appointed to the essential place of oil minister.

Common Abubakar gave no clarification for the absence of an oil minister in an tackle to the brand new Cupboard, by which he informed ministers to shun corruption and ignore politics within the months main as much as the restoration of democracy subsequent Could 29.

Officers mentioned {that a} new division can be created to supervise the oil trade, which accounts for not less than 90 p.c of the nation’s export earnings.

Ismaila Usman, a central banker with a fame for self-discipline who was demoted for standing as much as late dictator, Sani Abacha, in his calls for for money, was named Finance Minister”.

Though Common Abdusalam didn’t appoint a Petroleum Minister, following pressures from his deputy, the then Chief of Common Employees, Admiral Okhai Michael Akhigbe GCON (29 September 1946-28 October 2013), Common Abdusalam appointed Chief Godwin Aretenakai Adams (February 27, 1938- August 7, 2002) as particular adviser of Petroleum Affairs. Chief Adams was from Auchi in Edo State whereas Admiral Akhigbe was from Fugar additionally in Edo state.

Chief Adams was a Geo-physicist, reputed to be extremely principled, Adams’ tenure because the managing director of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Company (NNPC), between November 1985 and April 1990, can be remembered for a really very long time to return.

He stood agency towards what he thought-about makes an attempt to undermine requirements and plunge the sector into disaster, even on the threat of dropping his job because the chief govt of the NNPC, through the administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Considered one of such occasion was his opposition to the appointment of Alhaji Abba Gana as Common Supervisor, Advertising and marketing of the Nigerian Liquefied Pure Fuel Restricted.

Though he was subsequently suspended from workplace by the federal government on account of his place in 1989 and retired in April 1990, Adams left the NNPC together with his head held excessive and fame unsoiled.

Following his appointment as particular adviser on Petroleum by Common Abdusalam, the idea was that he would discharge his obligation as Minister of Petroleum. The belief turned grounded when he moved to the workplace vacated by Chief Dan Etete within the Federal Secretariat. Three weeks after, he realized that Authorities officers within the oil enterprise weren’t reporting to him as a substitute they have been reporting to the Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation, Alhaji Gidado Idris GCON (15 March 1935 – 15 December 2017). No one informed him that he was not the oil Minister. He had an viewers with Alhaji Gidado Idris however the problem was not resolved. A number of occasions he had conferences with Admiral Akhigbe but the difficulty was not resolved. Sponsored Magazines and newspaper publications surfaced portraying Alhaji Gidado Idris in unhealthy mild. I had a good schedule visiting newspapers and magazines, shuttling between Kaduna, Lagos and Ibadan defending my boss, Alhaji Gidado Idris.

Within the midst of the disaster, Common Abdusalam named the Minister of Nationwide Planning, Chief Rasheed Abiodun Oladosu Gbadamosi (1943-2016), an industrialist, a boardroom guru, a superb pal that I missed every day, to guide the Federal Authorities delegation to the OPEC assembly in Vienna. The Nigerian delegation to OPEC conferences is the statutory duty of the Minister of Petroleum or anybody answerable for that Ministry. After the Vienna assembly, it dawned on Chief Adams that the Ministry of Petroleum was in truth underneath the Head of State, Common Abdusalam Abubakar.

When President Obasanjo got here to energy in 1999, he didn’t make any pretence about it, he simply named himself Minister of Petroleum. He was Minister of Petroleum throughout his eight years tenure.

President Muhammadu Buhari adopted the footsteps of President Obasanjo when he turned the President in 2015. For the data, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is the longest-serving Minister of Petroleum.

Expectedly there are pressures on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on what to do with the Ministry of Petroleum. He both follows the footsteps of Common Abdusalam Abubakar, President Obasanjo or President Buhari by naming himself Minister of Petroleum. or he follows the footsteps of President Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari, Common Babangida, Chief Shonekan, Common Sani Abacha, President Umaru Yar’adua or President Goodluck by naming somebody because the Minister of Petroleum. Will probably be a tough selection for the incoming President.