By Progress Godfrey

ABUJA – The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NEPC Unit, have dismissed reports of a planned strike by workers, describing the claims as false and reaffirming that the Council remains committed to peace.

The clarification followed online reports alleging that NEPC staff were planning an industrial action and raising concerns over alleged appointments of directors and the management of the Council.

However, in a statement issued on Monday and signed by NEPC Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Aliu Seidu Sadiq, both parties, in a joint meeting, refuted the allegations, including those of favouritism, nepotism, and the appointment of directors.

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

The Council said the union was neither consulted nor involved in any planned strike, insisting that no directors had been appointed. It added that NEPC would continue to strengthen existing staff and the current organisational structure to support its operations.

Meanwhile, the Council maintained that its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni would continue to focus on staff development, highlighting that more than 75 per cent of its workforce had received professional training since 2023. It also said the Export Skills Acquisition Centre (ESAC) had trained over 500 youths and women in garment and bag production for export.

The statement noted that the Union Chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NEPC Unit, Comrade Moruf Ogunlana, reaffirmed that the Council enjoys industrial harmony and neither the union nor its members were consulted on the alleged strike call.

He disassociated the union from the online publications, pledged continued cooperation with management, and affirmed that Mrs Ayeni had consistently demonstrated fairness, professionalism and inclusiveness by treating all employees equitably regardless of tribe or background.

The Council further stated that under the current leadership, Nigeria recorded a non-oil export value of $6.1 billion in 2025, which it described as the highest since the Council’s establishment.

It added that more than 150 exporters had benefited from its third-party certification programme covering Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Halal and International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards.