Ministerial portfolios: Oil workers demand results as Tinubu heads petroleum ministry
Oil workers have demanded results as President Bola Tinubu assigned the Petroleum Ministry portfolio to himself.
Like his predecessor, the President will head the petroleum ministry while a former Senator, Heineken Lokpobiri, is the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources.
The President on Wednesday unveiled the portfolios of 45 ministers nine days after they were confirmed by the Senate in a week-long screening exercise.
The ministers will be sworn in on by the President at the State House Conference, Aso villa, Abuja on Monday.
A statement on Wednesday by the Director, Information Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey said the ministers could attend the ceremony with two guests each.
The General Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Lumumba Okugbawa, said there was nothing wrong with the President occupying the position of petroleum minister.
He said, “All the ministers report to the President, so for him to hold the position of petroleum minister doesn’t really matter much. What we should demand is for him to perform. So it doesn’t really matter that he decided to hold that position.”
Okugbawa stated that former President Muhammadu Buhari occupied the same positions as President and petroleum minister, stressing that Tinubu could also handle the task.
“Since they’ve given somebody the position of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, it doesn’t matter that the President is the petroleum minister. By the way, all the ministers report to the President,” he stated.
‘End vandalism’
A petroleum expert, Bala Zaka, said the petroleum minister must address the menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He also asked the government to formulate policies that would attract investments in the sector and consolidate full revitalisation of the industry in line with global practices.
He said, “The new minister must demonstrate indignation to make sure that crude oil thefts and pipeline vandalism is stopped immediately with the ultimate goal to improve oil production.
“He must put his foot firmly on the ground and make sure all these issues bedevilling the industry are solved. He must provide immediate solutions to these issues and formulate policies because investors are running away due to the country’s poor business climate.’’
Okugbawa stated that former President Muhammadu Buhari occupied the same positions as President and petroleum minister, stressing that Tinubu could also handle the task.
“Since they’ve given somebody the position of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, it doesn’t matter that the President is the petroleum minister. By the way, all the ministers report to the President,” he stated.
‘End vandalism’
A petroleum expert, Bala Zaka, said the petroleum minister must address the menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He also asked the government to formulate policies that would attract investments in the sector and consolidate full revitalisation of the industry in line with global practices.
He said, “The new minister must demonstrate indignation to make sure that crude oil thefts and pipeline vandalism is stopped immediately with the ultimate goal to improve oil production.
“He must put his foot firmly on the ground and make sure all these issues bedevilling the industry are solved. He must provide immediate solutions to these issues and formulate policies because investors are running away due to the country’s poor business climate.’’
