By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NEPC Unit, in Monday dismissed reports of a planned strike by workers of the Council, describing the reports as false and misleading.
The development followed a joint meeting between NEPC management and the leadership of the ASCSN, where the union reaffirmed its confidence in the Council’s leadership and confirmed that there was no planned industrial action.
In a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications, Aliu Seidu-Sadiq, NEPC said the purported strike report was “false, baseless” and should be disregarded.
The Chairman of the ASCSN, NEPC Unit, Comrade Moruf Ogunlana, also disowned the reports, saying neither the union nor its members had been consulted on any purported strike action.
Ogunlana reaffirmed the union’s commitment to continued cooperation with management and said the Council currently enjoys industrial harmony.
NEPC denies directors’ appointments
The Council also dismissed reports concerning the appointment of directors, clarifying that no directors has been appointed to the Council.
Management said it would continue to operate with the existing organisational structure and staff across its departments while strengthening employees’ capacity and skills.
It said the administration had also expanded opportunities for career progression by widening the directorate cadre and creating pathways for advancement across different staff cadres.
According to the Council, staff welfare has received increased attention, with more than 75 per cent of NEPC personnel trained in various professional areas since 2023.
NEPC highlights export initiatives
The Council also highlighted initiatives introduced under the leadership of its Executive Director/CEO, including the Export Skills Acquisition Centre (ESAC), which it said has trained more than 500 youths and women in garment and bag production for export.
Management and the union further rejected allegations of favouritism and nepotism within the Council, describing the claims as unfounded.
The union said the Executive Director/CEO, Nonye Ayeni, has demonstrated fairness, professionalism and inclusiveness in dealing with staff.
NEPC also said Nigeria recorded a non-oil export value of $6.1 billion in 2025, describing it as the highest figure since the establishment of the Council.
The Council attributed the performance to initiatives supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
It added that more than 150 exporters had benefited from its third-party certification programme covering standards including HACCP, FDA, HALAL and ISO, helping them secure internationally recognised certifications and access niche global markets.
NEPC urged the public and the exporting community to disregard the reports of a planned strike, assuring stakeholders that management and staff remained committed to working together to advance Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda.
