The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) spent ₦111.04 billion on training and recruitment in 2025, representing a 22.8 per cent increase from the ₦90.39 billion recorded in 2024.

The figure is contained in the company’s 2025 Annual Financial Report and was reported under general and administrative expenses for the financial year ended December 31, 2025.

On a standalone basis, NNPC Ltd. spent ₦56.75 billion on training and recruitment during the year, compared with ₦29.66 billion in 2024. This represents a 91.3 per cent increase, or an additional ₦27.09 billion.

The company’s financial statements also showed that short-term employee benefits across the NNPC Group rose to ₦782.76 billion in 2025 from ₦702.39 billion in 2024, representing an 11.4 per cent increase.

Staff allowances increased to ₦468.18 billion from ₦378.19 billion, a rise of ₦89.99 billion or 23.8 per cent.

However, salaries and wages fell slightly to ₦272.03 billion from ₦275.72 billion, while staff welfare expenses declined from ₦48.48 billion to ₦42.55 billion.

For NNPC Ltd. alone, short-term employee benefits increased to ₦270.70 billion from ₦219.18 billion in 2024. Staff allowances accounted for ₦140.02 billion, while salaries and wages stood at ₦104.45 billion and staff welfare expenses at ₦26.22 billion.

Other administrative expenses recorded varying movements during the year.

Security expenses dropped significantly to ₦129.12 billion from ₦271.37 billion in 2024, while transport and travelling expenses increased to ₦114.81 billion from ₦91.56 billion.

Insurance costs rose to ₦89.29 billion from ₦49.86 billion, whereas repairs and maintenance declined to ₦55.73 billion from ₦167.08 billion.

The company also recorded ₦33.49 billion in rent and rates, ₦29.25 billion in local community development expenses and ₦17.66 billion on fuel and lubricants.

Entertainment expenses fell to ₦11.44 billion from ₦30.34 billion, while bank charges increased to ₦9.16 billion from ₦6.99 billion.

The higher training and recruitment expenditure followed a major recruitment exercise that began in July 2024 and continued into 2025.

The exercise covered graduate trainees and experienced professionals in fields including petroleum engineering, geosciences, finance, audit, information technology, legal services and commercial operations.

More than 45,000 applicants participated in the Computer-Based Aptitude Test conducted as part of the recruitment process.

NNPC said more than 1,000 newly recruited professionals joined the company in 2025 and underwent a one-year internship and training programme before being deployed across its operations.