Abuja: The management of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has dismissed reports circulating in some online platforms that its staff members are planning to embark on a strike. The Council made this clarification following a joint meeting held with the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NEPC Unit, and Management.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, in a statement released on Monday in Abuja by Mr. Aliu Sadiq, Head of Corporate Communications, the NEPC stated there was no planned or contemplated strike action within the council. “The purported strike action is false, baseless and should be disregarded by the general public,” he said.
In the statement, the chairman of ASCSN, NEPC Unit, Comrade Moruf Ogunlana, emphasized that the council continued to enjoy industrial harmony. Ogunlana noted that neither the union nor its members were consulted on any purported strike call. He also disassociated the union from the online publications and pledged continued cooperation with management.
On allegations regarding the appointment of directors, the management clarified that there was no appointment of directors in the council. It stated that the management would continue to work with the existing organisational structure and staff across all departments while strengthening their capacity and professional skills.
According to the statement, the council has enhanced opportunities for staff progression by widening the directorate cadre and creating advanced pathways across all cadres. It also mentioned that staff welfare had improved, noting that more than 75 percent of NEPC personnel had received professional training in various areas since 2023.
The statement also highlighted initiatives introduced by the CEO, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni. The initiatives included the Export Skills Acquisition Centre (ESAC), which has trained more than 500 youths and women in garment and bag production for export. Both the management and the union also dismissed allegations of favouritism and nepotism, describing them as unfounded.
The council noted that Nigeria recorded a non-oil export value of 6.1 billion dollars in 2025, describing it as the highest since the inception of the council. It attributed the achievement to initiatives aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the statement, NEPC had implemented a robust third-party certification programme covering HACCP, FDA, HALAL, and ISO standards. The programme had enabled over 150 exporters to obtain globally recognised certifications and access international markets. The council urged the general public to disregard the reports while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining industrial harmony with all relevant stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda.