NEPC, workers dismiss strike reports, affirm industrial harmony

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The Nigerian Export Promotion Council and its workers’ union on Monday jointly dismissed reports of a planned industrial action, describing the claims circulating on some online media platforms as false and insisting that the council continues to enjoy industrial harmony.

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The council also denied reports alleging the appointment of directors and claims of favouritism and nepotism within the organisation, saying the allegations were unfounded and intended to mislead the public.

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The clarification followed a joint meeting between the management of the council and the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NEPC Unit.

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In a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications, Aliu Sadiq, the council urged exporters, stakeholders and members of the public to disregard what it described as misleading reports of an impending strike.

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The statement read, “The Management of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council debunks misinformation circulating in some sections of the online media alleging a planned strike action by NEPC staff.

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“Following a joint meeting held with the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NEPC Unit, Management wishes to inform the exporting community and the general public that there is no planned or contemplated industrial action within the Council.

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“The purported strike action is false, baseless, and should be disregarded by the general public.”

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According to the statement, the Chairman of the ASCSN, NEPC Unit, Moruf Ogunlana, reaffirmed that the council remained peaceful and that the union neither authorised nor had prior knowledge of the alleged strike.

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The statement said Ogunlana confirmed that “the Council continues to enjoy industrial harmony,” adding that “neither the Union nor its members were consulted on any purported strike call as alleged.”

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It added that the union “disassociated the Union from the online publications and pledged continued cooperation with Management.”

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Addressing reports of alleged appointments of directors, the management maintained that no such appointments had been made.

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The statement added, “There was no appointment of Directors to the Council,” adding that “to support the day-to-day running of her office, Management will not only continue to work with the existing organisational structure and staff across all Departments but further enhance their capacity and work skills.”

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The council said the approach reflected the commitment of the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nonye Ayeni, to strengthening internal capacity rather than outsourcing responsibilities.

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It stated that under Ayeni’s leadership, opportunities for career progression had expanded through the widening of the directorate cadre and the creation of advancement pathways across different staff levels.

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The council also highlighted improvements in staff welfare, saying more than 75 per cent of its workforce had received professional training since 2023.

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According to the statement, the Executive Director also introduced the Export Skills Acquisition Centre, which has trained more than 500 youths and women in garment and bag production for export.

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The management and the union also rejected allegations of favouritism and nepotism, describing the claims as inconsistent with the realities within the organisation.

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The statement said both parties “jointly debunked allegations of favouritism and nepotism, describing them as unfounded and inconsistent with the reality within the Council.”

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It added that the union affirmed that Ayeni “has consistently demonstrated fairness, professionalism and inclusiveness, treating all employees equitably regardless of tribe or background.”

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The council further defended its recent performance, stating that Nigeria recorded a non-oil export value of $6.1bn in 2025, the highest since the establishment of the council.

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It attributed the achievement to reforms and export promotion initiatives implemented under the current leadership in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

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The statement added that NEPC had also implemented a third-party certification programme covering HACCP, FDA, HALAL and ISO standards, enabling more than 150 exporters to secure internationally recognised certifications and gain easier access to global markets.

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It said, “We therefore urge the public to disregard the misleading online reports as Management and the entire staff of the Council reiterate its commitment to work harmoniously with all relevant stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda in line with the Renewed Hope vision of the Federal Government.”

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