With Mele Kyari, the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), turning 60 on 8 January 2025, debates are emerging about whether he will step down as required by public service rules or leverage a legal loophole to stay in office.
Kyari, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019, has led the NNPC for over five years, making him the longest-serving CEO since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. While public service rules suggest retirement at 60, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, which restructured NNPC into a limited liability company, provides a different perspective.
The Legal Debate: Under the PIA, the NNPC now operates under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), which does not impose age or tenure limits on its leadership. This shift could allow Kyari to argue for a fresh five-year term starting in 2021, which would extend his tenure to 2027.Adewale Adebayo, a Lagos-based energy lawyer, noted: “The PIA was meant to give the NNPC more autonomy, but allowing political appointees to continue in executive roles undermines these reforms.”
Meanwhile, energy consultant Emeka Nwosu pointed out concerns about accountability within the NNPC, despite Kyari overseeing notable projects.Who Might Succeed Kyari?Speculations about Kyari’s potential successor are already rife, with two leading candidates emerging.
Ahmadu Musa Kida: A former executive at TotalEnergies, Kida has over 35 years of industry experience. His supporters argue that his appointment could balance regional interests, particularly from the North.
Ethnic and Regional Concerns: the possibility of appointing Ojulari has sparked concerns among some northern stakeholders, who argue that such a decision could further regional imbalance in government appointments. Critics, including US-based professor Farooq Kperogi, have accused President Tinubu of favouring a particular ethnic group in key appointments.In response, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye dismissed these claims, stating: “The NNPC operates as a professional organisation with diverse leadership that includes experts from across Nigeria and even internationally.”
As Kyari’s tenure nears its critical juncture, the legal and political debates surrounding his position highlight the broader challenges of balancing reform, accountability, and regional inclusion within one of Nigeria’s most influential institutions.
Whether Kyari steps down or remains in office, the NNPC’s leadership transition will have significant implications for the nation’s oil and gas sector.
