Upstream Regulatory Commission assures of stable chain of production

24 Oct Upstream Regulatory Commission assures of stable chain of production

The Chief Executive Officer of the Upstream Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe yesterday cautioned the management and staff against any disruption that could lead to downtime in production.

He spoke in Abuja at the Head office of the defunct Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR), which the Petroleum Industry (Act PIA) has reformed into Upstream Regulatory Commission.

He said: “What should be of concern to us now which has been my concern in the last 24 hours is that we must all work to ensure there is no job stoppage, no distortion to activities in the sense that the industry is very time sensitive. What we all know is that a delay for 24 hours is a lot of delay in the industry.

“We should all ensure at this transition period we should all be time conscious and that we do not create anything that will lead to aggravation of cost at a point when the nation requires every revenue. We will ensure that we don’t do anything that will cause the nation any loss of revenue.” This caution message, according to him, was part of the reasons he convened the meeting, which was his maiden engagement with them.

He recalled that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva on Wednesday allayed the staff of fear about job loss. He reassured them that their jobs were protected. The CEO noted that that in accordance with the law, none of the staff would be placed below his position. He however informed that that that despite the assurance of jobs, there might be redeployment.

Komolafe said: “Notwithstanding that, job location, responsibilities might change, I expect that. At least, the law protects workers jobs.” He noted that since the transition would frighten the staff owing to its uncertainty, he decided to address the meeting to allay their fears.

According to him, “Setting a brand new organization is not an easy task. But the expectation of the act is that we are setting a new organization to put in place a 21st century organization with brand new culture and brand new vision. I want to tell you we are going to do it all. I believe in the capability and facts. The expectation is that the faces I have seen we will deliver this for the nation.”

He said the commission’s leadership was coming in at a very critical moment in the life of the industry and the nation. He added that “We are coming in at point when the expectations are high; the nation has very high expectations. In the international community, this is a very critical moment in the life of the industry.”

According to him, the leadership assumed office at the time of energy transition from the fossil fuels to renewable is competing for the nation to have increased revenue to fund social budgeting and critical infrastructrure. He said it was already a challenge that required them to redouble their efforts and begin work in earnest to meet the country’s aspirations. He promised to write his name in gold in the commission, adding that under his watch there objectivity would be the watch word.

The CEO said “Let me assure you all here that if there is any mission, I have, it is to put my name in gold. You have an advantage that I am coming to provide leadership that I am going to be very objective. “I am going to be fair to all and sundry dealing with you guys without any tainted mind, no premeditated opinion and no carryover of any past. So, that is a strength in itself that you are going to be being working without any subjectivity and whatsoever.”

He assured the workforce that the commission would be building a new brand and a new culture: “This is just to assure you we are building a brand new organization with a brand new culture. We owe it, a duty to perform. And we all have the capability to discharge and we will definitely deliver.”