PICTURE: NURC CEO, Gbwnga Komolafe
By Bassey Udo
The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURC), Gbenga Komolafe, has assured staff of the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) that he would be fair and just to all workers of the agency as he assumed office in Abuja.
Komolafe gave the assurance on Thursday while addressing the maiden meeting with the management and staff of the regulatory agency.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, inaugurated the CEO and members of the Governing Board of the new entity on October 20.
The new CEO also pledged to maintain an open door policy as well as address every issue in the Commission adequately, to spur oil and gas industry development.
The industry technocrat noted that although changes always creates anxiety and uncertainty in the minds of people, he would do everything to protect their jobs under the law.
“The expectation of the law is that people’s job are protected under the law, notwithstanding that job location and responsibilities might automatically change.
“The law also provides that people will not be placed below their previous positions. Our concern is to work to ensure that there is no job stoppage and disruptions of activities in the sense that the industry is time-sensitive,” he said.
He called on the staff to embrace team work, having in mind that the challenges ahead are quite enormous.
“Setting up a brand new organisation is not an easy task, but from the expectation of the Act, we are setting a new Commission to put in place a 21st century organisation with brand new culture and vision.
“My leadership will be very objective and fair to all and sundry and subsequently, I will be engaging the staff for productive output and economic growth,” he said.
The minister also inaugurated the governing board and CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which replaced the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).
The inauguration of the two bodies are critical steps to ensuring effective regulation and best practices in the sector, in line with global standards, he said.
