The Global Information Team (GIT) has urged the newly appointed management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), led by Ojulari, to honour a prior commitment to absorb 12 staff members from the now-defunct Hyson Nigeria Limited, warning that failure to do so violates international labour standards.

The appeal, spearheaded by GIT’s head of investigation, Anabel Crown, follows the dissolution of all trading joint ventures by the NNPCL board in late 2023, which saw Hyson Nigeria Limited officially wound up on 31 December of that year.

The move was part of a broader consolidation effort to bring all trading operations under a wholly owned NNPCL entity.

At the time, assurances were made that the 12 Hyson employees would face no job losses and would be seamlessly transferred to NNPC Retail Limited—a promise that has yet to materialise.

Under the tenure of former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari, who was recently removed by President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the transition stalled, leaving the workers in limbo.

The GIT now calls on Ojulari’s administration to revisit the matter urgently, either by absorbing the staff into NNPCL or offering them substantial severance packages akin to those provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria to its relieved employees.

“This prolonged uncertainty is not just a breach of trust—it’s a violation of international labour law,” Crown told Elanza News.

“Keeping workers promised employment in suspense amounts to deceit and deception, with devastating consequences for their livelihoods and families.”

The situation has been compounded by alleged mismanagement during the transition.

Sources within GIT allege that the former managing director of Hyson Nigeria Limited deliberately withheld a crucial letter that would have facilitated the staff’s absorption into NNPC Retail Limited.

“This was an act of selfishness, with no regard for the wellbeing of these workers or their families,” Crown said, pointing to the rigorous interviews the staff underwent, with results submitted to the NNPC Retail board—then chaired by Kyari—for approval that never came.

The affected workers, described as “fathers and children” by GIT, have faced severe hardship, deprivation, and even starvation as the matter remains unresolved.

“These are people who went through a thorough recruitment process and were deemed successful, yet they’ve been left to suffer,” Crown added.

In a direct appeal, GIT has called on President Tinubu, who serves as the substantive Petroleum Minister overseeing NNPCL, to intervene. “As the father of the nation and a true democrat, we urge Mr President to wade into this matter.

These workers deserve sympathy and swift action—absorbing them without delay is not just a matter of humanity, but a defence of their rights and privileges,” the GIT statement read.

The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny of NNPCL’s operations following Kyari’s exit and Ojulari’s appointment, with stakeholders watching closely to see if the new leadership will prioritise transparency and accountability.

For now, the fate of the 12 Hyson workers hangs in the balance, their plight a stark reminder of the human cost of bureaucratic delays.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Rivers State Police Command to tender an unreserved public apology over the assault on five journalists during a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt or risk a statewide media blackout.

In a statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, and Secretary, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, the NUJ condemned the actions of police officers involved, demanding their immediate identification and prosecution.

“The NUJ, as a watchdog of society, will not sit idly by while media practitioners are subjected to barbarism and brutality. Enough is enough,” the statement warned, noting that any further attack on journalists in the state would be “vehemently resisted.”

The union described the incident as “unprovoked, barbaric, and inhuman,” saying it amounted to a gross violation of the rights of the affected journalists.

Those assaulted include Charles Opurum of Channels TV, Allwell Ene of Naija FM, Soibelemari Oruwari of Nigeria Info, Ikezam Godswill of AIT, and Femi Ogunkhilede of Super FM.

The journalists were tear-gassed while covering the protest, with Opurum beaten, and detained by security operatives.

Expressing deep regret over the incident, the NUJ lamented that an institution tasked with safeguarding lives and property has turned its weapons on citizens, particularly journalists performing their lawful duties.

Despite the provocation, the union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and partnership with the police in the interest of peace and national development.

It, however, cautioned the police not to jeopardise the existing relationship with the media.

The NUJ also urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing hope that the police authorities would take decisive steps to address the matter and ensure a more respectful working relationship with journalists in Rivers State.

A student of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) has been abducted by unidentified gunmen following an off-campus hostel attack.

Channels reports that the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Istijaba Villa in Unguwar Jeji area of the state.

Witness accounts said five armed men entered the hostel to demand money from students who were taking a walk outside.

But the students refused to give in to their demands, which led to an assault from the attackers.

A resident, who was said to have attempted intervention, was shot dead while a final-year student of economics, simply identified as Madubiya, was whisked away by the assailants.

Responding to the incident, Muhammad Zaiyan-Umar, the vice-chancellor of FUBK, visited the scene in the company of the officers from the Kalgo police division and Department of State Services (DSS).

Addressing the students, Zaiyan-Umar said the university is committed to ensuring their safety and security.

It is understood that the VC has communicated the incident to Nasir Idris, the governor of Kebbi state, through the secretary to the state government and the director of security services at the cabinet office.

As of this reporting, the Kebbi state police command has yet to respond to enquiries about the incident.

In 2021, rumours soared of a planned attack by bandits after a heavy security presence was observed on campus.

At the time, the management of FUBK dismissed the claims.