In response to the NNPCL’s unjustified fuel price rise, one thousand lawyers have threatened to shut down the company’s offices.

On November 2, lawyers from the Coalition of Nigerian Legal Practitioners plan to gather at the Abuja headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to demonstrate against the increase in petrol prices.

According to Daily Sun, this comes after the coalition had already complained to various government agencies about the shortage and arbitrary price increase in Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), including President Bola Tinubu, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The attorneys argued that NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer should be relieved of his duties since he bears ultimate responsibility for the crisis.

Petition Against the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and a Call for his Immediate Sack’ was the title of the letter dated October 30, 2023, which contained the petition and was signed by Bernard Adesina, Peter Agbonghan, Igwe Chukwudi, and others.

They claim that the excessive increases in the price of Premium Motor Spirit have put an undue burden on the people of Nigeria.

“We are writing you on behalf of a coalition of Nigerian legal practitioners who are desirous of good governance, delivery of the public good, and welfare of the Nigerian people,” the petition states.

We’re writing about the recent increase in petrol prices that you may have noticed. Many people in Nigeria are struggling to make ends meet because of widespread shortages brought on by government policies.

We the undersigned are concerned persons who feel strongly that something must be done right away to stop the deterioration of the current situation.

The company’s current Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) has “failed woefully” in his role to ensure adequate supply of petroleum products in the country, driving up transportation costs, food prices, and other hardships.

Therefore, we want to share our dismay and make it clear that we no longer have faith in the present GCEO’s capacity to carry out the company’s mandate.

We have concluded that the NNPCL would benefit from a change in leadership at this time so that the firm can be propelled forward by the innovative thinking and hard work of people with new perspectives.

Therefore, we demand that the incumbent GCEO of the NNPCL be removed from his position as he has clearly failed to successfully run the organisation. Therefore, we demand that the current GCEO be relieved of his responsibilities and fired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Despite the excruciating pains Nigerians are experiencing as a result of the unwarranted, insensitive, and callous hike in the pump price of petrol,” the letter continued, “we will mobilise over 1,000 Lawyers to hold a national press conference and rally on the 2nd of November 2023 in which Nigerian news organisations in the print, radio, television, and online media will be invited.”

We’ve settled on taking legal action to enforce our expectations.

Therefore, we strongly ask you (Tinubu) to use your good office to take the required and swift measures to resolve the current fuel problem.

To spare Nigerians further suffering, we further ask that the President evaluate the NNPCL’s Board of Directors and the current GCEO’s performance, and then dismiss or discipline them as appropriate.

We are convinced that the NNPCL requires a complete change in its leadership in order to rediscover itself and carry out its mission.

The trust that Nigerians have placed in the corporation will be restored greatly thanks to this.

I look forward to hearing from you soon and appreciate your consideration. Please know how much we value and appreciate you.