The Corporate Secretariat and Legal Division provides effective and efficient quality services to the Corporation, Joint Ventures, Government Agencies/ Third Parties with a high sense of professionalism towards achieving the mission and vision of the Corporation as well as the policy and directives of Government.
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide effective and efficient quality Corporate Secretariat and Legal Services to the NNPC Board, it’s Committees, Management, subsidiary companies, Joint Ventures and third parties with a sense of professionalism using a high level of interaction in support of the mission and vision of the Corporation and the policy and strategic directives of Government.
CSLD is headed by a Group General Manager (GGM, CSLD) supported by four General Managers. The Division is divided into 4 departments namely:
- Commercial Law
- Litigation & Property Law
- Corporate Law
- Board Matters & Management Committees
Commercial Law:
This is the main engine room for the drafting and review of all agreements
executed by the NNPC. It is also involved in documentation for all Commercial
Projects/Transactions. Some of the agreements/contracts produced by
the department include:
- Olokola
- ExxonMobil
- Brass
Back – In – Production Sharing Contract which has the following provisions
- Training Provisions
- Local Content Issues
- Larger human resources participation
- Larger use of domestic services and materials
- Change in calculation of Profit Oil for larger revenue to Govt.
- NPDC becoming recognized – operator domestically and internationally
Litigation and Property Law Department:
LPLD/CSLD’s guiding principles on litigation are as follows:
- To take proactive measures to ensure litigation matters are promptly dealt with
- Project Managers to ensure due compliance with Project Agreement
- Personal Managers to ensure due compliance with disciplinary procedures & Conditions of Service
- In-house lawyers to liaise with External Solicitors in Preparing Statement of Defense, Affidavits etc.
- In-house lawyers to monitor performance of External Solicitors and ensure pre-trial conferences are scheduled and prepared for.
Statutory Priviledges Regarding Litigations
- No suit shall be instituted against the Corp. (including wholly owned SBUs) unless commenced within 12months next after the act complained of.
- No suit shall be instituted before expiration of a period of one month after written notice of intention to commence legal proceedings has been served upon the Corp.
- No execution or attachment or process shall be levied against the property of the Corp. (including its wholly owned subsidiaries).
- Exemption from payment of tenements rates in respect of oil pipelines, oil rigs, refineries, power generating plants, pumping stations, tank farms and similar installations BUT does not include office or residential buildings
Board Matters and Management Committees
This department executes all statutory functions of Secretary to the Corporation. It provides secretariat functions for:
- Management meetings – GEC, TMC, Group Board, board sub-committees – FTGPC, AMC, Establishment.
- Keeps statutory record
- Processes Council approvals
- Secretariat Services for SBUs
- AGM, Board, Board Sub-Committees
- Conduct statutory Filings
At the various Strategic Business Units (SBUs) of NNPC, there are Company Secretaries/Legal Advisers who functionally report to their respective MDs with dotted reporting line to the GGM CSLD. At NAPIMS there is a head of legal and Insurance Dept. supported by other lawyers functionally reporting to the GGM NAPIMS again with dotted reporting line to the GGM CSLD