Long before President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved the last federal cabinet, certain elements had started to put pressure on him not to return some ministers in the old order. Incidentally, many of those whose names were bandied around are ministers with ‘juicy’ portfolios.
Prominent on the list is Diezani Alison-Madueke who was in charge of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and indeed the first Nigerian woman to be oil minister. Others included Fidelia Njeze (Aviation), Olusegun Aganga (Finance), and Emeka Nwogu (Labour and Productivity) and Adetokunbo Kayode (Defence).
While criticism of others seems scanty, that of Alison-Madueke keeps re-echoing leading some to believe there is a coordinated campaign against her. Series of allegations have been laid on the desk of the oil technocrat and reasons proffered as to why she should not return to the ministry or not even be appointed into Jonathan’s new cabinet.
Alison-Madueke’s appointment as Minister of Petroleum Resources on April 6, 2010 to take over from Rilwanu Lukman was lauded and considered historic. Besides being Nigeria’s first female oil minister, she was also the only feminine voice amongst the male dominated Organisation of Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Her appointment to the position came at a time of great challenge as the Federal Government aimed to overhaul the sector to deliver maximum benefit to the nation. Prominent amongst the agenda was the provision of gas for electricity generation, transforming the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries into profit-making outfits, improve investment in sector, deregulation of the domestic petroleum products market and resolution of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta.
Jonathan’s predecessor, President Umaru Yar’Adua, made Alison-Madueke a member of his cabinet when he appointed her Minister of Transportation. She served in that capacity from July 26, 2007 to December 17, 2008 before moving to the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development from December 23, 2008 to March 17, 2010. Jonathan, Alison-Madueke’s kinsman from Bayelsa State, made her petroleum resources minister after the National Assembly invoked the Doctrine of Necessity to declare him acting President before Yar’Adua’s eventual death on May 5, 2010.
Alison-Madueke came into Yar’Adua government in 2007 from her position as a executive director with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). Often regarded as a ‘Shell girl’ having grown up with her parents who were employees of oil giant, the minister was armed with enough knowledge and know-how on matters concerning petroleum resources.
A graduate of architecture in England and Howard University in the United States, she worked for some years in the U.S. before returning to Nigeria in 1992 to work for her father’s old employer. She rose to become Shell’s first female director in Nigeria, completing an MBA at Cambridge University along the way.
Alison-Madueke was supposed to have overseen the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) when passed into law by the National Assembly. That never happened.
Also, she should have been saddled with the responsibility of administering the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry. Although this was increasingly unlikely as the nation gradually moved into electioneering activities, which overtook many things.
Another key area of focus for her was to ensure that the industry operated in a manner that would positively address environment concerns, unemployment and the lack of basic infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.
Critics are capitalising on the non-actualisation of these and many more to call for her head. But Alison-Madueke does not only want to be re- appointed minister, she still has her eyes on her last portfolio.
Those against her are quick to argue alleged fraud in the ministry under her watch.
Transparency International (TI), an organisation that monitors performance index on integrity and transparency, rated the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) during her stewardship as one of the bottom eight oil companies on earth; in terms of performance and accountability.
According to the 2011 report entitled: ‘Promoting Revenue Transparency’, NNPC was declared “one of the eight worst performing companies worldwide, as their demonstration of any commitment to stop misappropriation of revenue is zero”. NNPC also scored zero for poor organisational disclosure – the corporation which Deziani oversaw failed to divulge relevant information to the TI assessment team; supporting the widespread concern about poor accountability practices in the company.
Some have traced the poor rating to the discovery that “Alison- Madueke deliberately usurped the functions and authorities of the de facto CEO of the NNPC, deepening the oil cartel into more secrecy and corrupt diversion of oil proceeds”.
Media reports also quoted sources at the ministry to have said that the invoice on sold crude and actual revenue accruing to the country do not usually tally.
As petroleum minister, Alison-Madueke got the President’s approval to supervise the NNPC, Department for Petroleum Resource (DPR) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). After the approval was given, she replaced key officials with those she trusted.
In the face of this harsh criticism and call for her sack, Alison-Madueke is promising to continue the reforms which she argues has engendered transparency in the oil and gas sector and denied “rent-seekers” the opportunity to continue “business as usual.” Industry experts question that claim considering the poor scorecard of transparency in the Nigeria oil sector, issued by TI and Revenue Watch Institute (RWI).
As the date for the announcement of new ministers draws closer, the woman is putting up a fight as there have been counter-advertorials published in the media by her associates.
If she does come back as petroleum resources minister given her closeness to the President, her detractors may have to eat their words
By Goddie Ofose, Senior Correspondent, Lagos
Daily Independent
No comments:
Post a Comment