The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has dismissed reports of a planned industrial action by its staff, describing claims circulating on some online media platforms as false and reaffirming that the Council continues to enjoy industrial harmony nationwide.
In a statement, the Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Aliu Sadiq, said the alleged strike action was unfounded and urged the exporting community and the general public to disregard the reports.
The clarification followed a joint meeting between the Council’s management and the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NEPC Unit, where both parties confirmed that no strike had been planned or contemplated.
“The purported strike action is false, baseless and should be disregarded by the general public,” the statement said.
According to the Council, the Chairman of the ASCSN, NEPC Unit, Comrade Moruf Ogunlana, reaffirmed that industrial harmony remains intact within the organisation, stressing that neither the union nor its members had been consulted on any alleged strike action.
The union also distanced itself from the online publications and pledged continued cooperation with the council’s management.
Addressing reports of alleged appointments of directors, the management clarified that no such appointments had been made.
The Council explained that it would continue to rely on its existing organisational structure while strengthening the capacity and skills of its staff to support efficient service delivery.
“The current administration has expanded opportunities for career progression by widening the directorate cadre and creating advancement pathways across all staff levels,” the Council said.
It stated that staff welfare has also received significant attention, with more than 75 per cent of NEPC personnel having received professional training since 2023.
The statement further highlighted several initiatives introduced under the leadership of the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, including the Export Skills Acquisition Centre, which has trained more than 500 youths and women in garment and bag production for export.
Management and the union also rejected allegations of favouritism and nepotism, describing the claims as unfounded.
According to the statement, the union affirmed that Mrs Ayeni “has consistently demonstrated fairness, professionalism and inclusiveness, treating all employees equitably regardless of tribe or background”.
The Council also highlighted achievements recorded since 2023, including Nigeria’s non-oil export value of 6.1 billion dollars in 2025, which it described as the highest since the establishment of the NEPC.
It noted that the milestone was driven by initiatives aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The statement added that the Council had “implemented a comprehensive third-party certification programme covering HACCP, FDA, Halal and ISO standards, enabling more than 150 exporters to obtain internationally recognised certifications and gain access to niche global markets.”
The NEPC urged stakeholders and the general public to disregard what it described as misleading reports, reaffirming its commitment to working with staff, exporters and other stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda.
