The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has dismissed reports circulating on some online media platforms alleging that members of staff are planning to embark on an industrial action, describing the claims as false and misleading.

The Council, following a joint meeting between its management and the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NEPC Unit, said there is no planned or contemplated strike within the organisation.

In a statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Aliu Seidu Sadiq, the Council urged the exporting community and the general public to disregard the reports, stressing that the alleged strike action is “false, baseless and should be disregarded.”

According to the statement, the Chairman of the ASCSN, NEPC Unit, Comrade Moruf Ogunlana, reaffirmed that the Council continues to enjoy industrial harmony, noting that neither the union nor its members were consulted on any purported strike action.

The union also distanced itself from the online publications and pledged its continued cooperation with the management in promoting industrial peace and organisational growth.

Responding to allegations regarding the appointment of directors, the management clarified that no new directors had been appointed.

It explained that the Council would continue to rely on its existing organisational structure while strengthening the capacity and skills of staff across all departments to enhance operational efficiency.

The Council noted that under the leadership of the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, opportunities for staff career progression have expanded through the widening of the directorate cadre and the creation of advancement pathways across various levels of the organisation.

It added that staff welfare has also received significant attention, with more than 75 per cent of NEPC personnel benefiting from professional training programmes since 2023.

The statement further highlighted the establishment of the Export Skills Acquisition Centre (ESAC), which has trained over 500 youths and women in garment and bag production for export, as one of the administration’s landmark initiatives aimed at boosting Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

Management and the union also dismissed allegations of favouritism and nepotism, describing them as unfounded and inconsistent with the realities within the Council.

According to the union, Mrs Ayeni has consistently demonstrated fairness, professionalism and inclusiveness in her leadership, ensuring that all employees are treated equitably irrespective of tribe or background.

The Council also highlighted its achievements since Mrs Ayeni assumed office in 2023, including Nigeria’s record non-oil export value of $6.1 billion in 2025—the highest in the Council’s history—which it attributed to reforms and initiatives aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

It further disclosed that over 150 exporters have benefited from its third-party certification programme, which covers internationally recognised standards such as HACCP, FDA, HALAL and ISO, enabling them to access niche global markets.

The NEPC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining industrial harmony and working with all stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda, urging the public to ignore what it described as misleading reports aimed at creating unnecessary tension within the Council.

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