The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is facing public criticism following revelations of a substantial increase in salaries and allowances for its over 6,280 staff members.
However, the company maintains that its new pay structure is modest when compared to global industry standards and is a necessary response to the country’s prevailing economic conditions.
Investigations by The Guardian revealed that some of the recent salary adjustments amounted to as much as 50 percent, with a significant rise in allowances as well.
While some insiders allege that the increments were backdated, a senior staff member who spoke anonymously claimed that the Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, implemented the pay rise as a strategy to both retain existing talent and attract new, high-quality professionals.
The NNPCL’s compensation for its staff is sourced from a 30 percent management fee, a provision legally established by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
According to an August 2025 presentation to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), this fund totaled N25.3 billion. The news of these salary adjustments has reportedly led to some employees from other well-paying federal government agencies switching their employment to the NNPCL.
In its defence, the company maintained that the pay adjustments were essential to safeguard its competitiveness.
“As a responsible employer, NNPC Limited strives to maintain a competitive salary structure that reflects prevailing realities in the energy industry,” a company source told The Guardian.
“Even with recent adjustments, our compensation remains at the mid-range compared to global oil and gas standards, and we continue to face challenges in attracting and retaining top talent.”
As of April 2025, the company’s workforce consisted of 6,280 staff, with men comprising 80.8 percent (5,077) and women 19.2 percent (1,203) of the total.
