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  • 1 year ago
The National Petroleum Marketing Company is denying several claims by the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union, including that the company is "unstable". It comes on the heels of the resignation of Chief Executive Officer, Derek Luk Pat.


NP is also responding to accusations by the OWTU that the Board of Directors is overstepping on managerial operations.


Alicia Boucher has the details.
Transcript
00:00Following the resignation of Derek Lukpat on November 1st, National Petroleum says
00:05Chester Beput, whose substantive position for the past seven years as
00:09general manager of NP, was immediately placed as acting CEO. NP highlights this
00:15as it vehemently denies a claim made by the oilfields workers trade union on
00:19November 8th at a protest at the Sealots compound. Mr. Lukpat's resignation with
00:25immediate effect just one year into his term sent shockwaves throughout the
00:29organization and added an air of uncertainty that has been pervading the
00:34company for over the past four years. According to NP, Beput's tenure spans 24
00:40years and he has held various positions in the company. NP says, quote, Mr. Beput
00:46has acted in the position of CEO prior and is qualified and capable of leading
00:51NP at this time until further notice, end quote. However, the OWTU has expressed
00:57confidence in Beput's ability to function in the role of CEO and it went
01:01on to question why he was never selected for the post. In response to this and the
01:07union's allegations that senior managerial positions are being
01:10contracted out while employees with more tenure are being overlooked, NP calls it
01:15inaccurate. The company goes on to say that it has, quote, made a strategic and
01:21commercial decision to contract a number of senior managerial positions, both
01:26internal and external candidates have an opportunity to participate in a
01:30recruitment process which is fair and transparent and managed by an independent
01:35third-party contractor, end quote. The company further states that based on its
01:412020 to 2021 audited financial statements, 19.5 million dollars in
01:47profit before tax was recorded and each successive year has seen improvement in
01:52this regard. Meanwhile, in response to the OWTU's allegation that one of the
01:57reasons for the resignation of Luke Pat was that the company's risk portfolio
02:01was, quote unquote, too high for his personal and professional tolerance, NP
02:06says this statement is factually inaccurate. The first vice president of
02:11the OWTU, Sati Gadjeda-Innes, has accused the board of directors of interfering in
02:17the day-to-day managerial operations. Give me an idea of what, what that
02:21interference looks like. One of the key things I will, and the least of it, would be the
02:26confirmation of workers and regularization of workers. Prior to the
02:31last CEO coming into office, we would have been hearing time and time again
02:35the board decision is not to hire new hire and to confirm people in their
02:41positions. Functions, the OWTU stated, would usually be governed by human
02:46resources. Well, in response to that accusation of overstepping by the board,
02:51NP says it is guided by the State Enterprise Performance Monitoring Manual.
02:56NP refers to Section 2, outlining, quote, the chairman is charged inter alia with
03:02the responsibilities of ensuring that activities of the board are conducted in
03:06a manner which will facilitate the attainment of the objectives of the
03:10company, end quote. NP further states that the members of the board have a statutory
03:15requirement under Section 991A of the Companies Act Chapter 8101 to operate in
03:22the best interests of NP, and the company says, quote, as such, the NP board has a
03:27remit to facilitate NP's achievement of its strategic objectives, as well as
03:32seek NP's best interests at all times, end quote. NP denies that six board
03:38members also resigned, saying this is not factual. NP expresses a view that there
03:43is no need to improve on the governance structure of the company, contrary to
03:48the opinion held by the OWTU. While protesting workers and their
03:52representing trade unions said they have no confidence in NP's chairman, Saeed
03:56Hussain, the company says it has full confidence in its chairman and board of
04:01directors. Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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