A socio-cultural group, Ndigbo Youths Movement Worldwide (NYMW), has renewed its call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately sack the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari.
The group emphasized that the recent findings of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, which uncovered the non-remittance of N8.8 trillion by the NNPCL, exposed deep-seated corruption in the oil sector.
In its report on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the House Committee revealed that the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Responsibility Commission accused the NNPCL of withholding N8.8 trillion in dividends owed to the federation, allegedly used for petroleum subsidy payments.
The NYMW, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Israel Akaego, and Secretary, Amaka Ukadike, praised the courage and foresight of the House Committee Chairman on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Ugochinyere.
The group noted that Ugochinyere had consistently called for accountability in the NNPCL and urged the immediate removal of Kyari to restore integrity in the nation’s oil sector.
“The findings of the House of Representatives vindicate the earlier stance of Hon. Ugochinyere. He has been a lone voice insisting on accountability in the NNPCL, and this report reinforces his position,” the statement read.
The NYMW further urged the House to ensure that the damning report is not swept under the carpet, stressing the importance of addressing the financial irregularities to restore public confidence.
“It is critical for the House of Representatives to act decisively and ensure that this report is followed to a logical conclusion. This matter must not be trivialized or buried in bureaucracy,” the group stated.
In addition, the NYMW called on President Tinubu to demonstrate his administration’s commitment to fighting corruption by relieving Kyari of his duties.
“If the President is serious about combating corruption and protecting the nation’s resources, he must not delay in removing Mallam Mele Kyari from office,” the group declared.
