Will Mele Kyari Retire This January?

By Abba Audu Benisheikh

(@AbbaAudu_)

Mele Kyari appointment as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC) was made directly by the President as stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). This unique circumstance exempts Kyari from the traditional career progression pathway within the organization. As a result, Kyari is not bound by the standard retirement age limit of 60 years that applies to civil servants and staff of the company.

This distinction is crucial, especially considering President Tinubu recent reappointment of Kyari, effectively extending his tenure. This move allows Kyari to continue leading the NNPC Ltd. without being constrained by the usual or conventional retirement age limits that govern public and civil servants. This development highlights the distinctive nature of Kyari’s appointment, which is governed by the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and relevant government circulars, rather than traditional civil service regulations. This arrangement enables him to serve as the GCEO of NNPC Limited for a specified term, separate from his previous career progression within the organization.

Consequently, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari will serve out his term as GCEO of NNPC Limited, unencumbered by the standard retirement age limits that apply to civil servants, and focused on driving the organization’s strategic objectives forward. As a result, Kyari will serve as the GCEO of NNPC Limited for a specified term, as outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and relevant government circulars, rather than being subject to the standard retirement age limits.

The naysayers are hellbent on ensuring that Mele Kyari leaves the stage for them. Unfortunately for these chronic arm-chair cynics, the GCEO is not just another GMD nor Chief Exeutive of the National Oil Company. Not at all. Considering his stellar contributions towards the progress and development of the Company, Mele Kyari has already cemented his name in the histocal annals of the NNPC Ltd.

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In these five years when he’s at the helm, Kyari has left a lasting legacy which at best can be considered as enviable and unmatchable, as every aspect of the NNPC Ltd business is littered with milestones upon achievements. From increasing crude oil production and restoring Nigeria’s energy security to growing citical gas and power infrastructure and revamping the nation’s refineries, Kyari’s legacy are everywhere for all to see.

My advice to Kyari’s detractors is that they should take it easy and re-focus their energy on more positive things. This is because, industry-wide, Kyari’s pedigree is on the rise. Little wonder that a deluge of commendation keep coming from almost all quarters across the energy sector, at home and abroad. Even Aso Rock has lost count of how many times it sang the praises of the GCEO Mallam Mele Kyari.

Mele Kyari is a phenomenon and he’ll leave the stage when his mission at the NNPC Ltd is fulfilled, for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.