The Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has dismissed as baseless and misleading a recent online publication alleging procedural breaches in the council’s upcoming staff promotion examinations.
NEPC, in a statement by its Director of Policy and Strategy, Mr. Lawal Shehu Dalhat, described the publication’s claims against its Executive Director and CEO, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, as “egregious misinformation” and a gross misrepresentation of civil service procedures.
The rebuttal follows allegations that Ayeni was “carrying out appointments in violation of procedures” ahead of the Council’s promotion exams scheduled to hold from July 9 to 11, 2025.
But NEPC insisted that the accusation amounts to convicting her of an offence she is yet to even commit.
“Can there be a more shocking and unkind miscarriage of justice?” the Council asked, pointing out that the exams have not yet taken place, and no promotions have been made.
Clarifying the promotion process, NEPC emphasized that no Executive Director, Mrs. Ayeni included, can unilaterally promote staff in the civil service as all promotions follow a detailed procedure involving multiple oversight bodies.
According to the Council, before any examination is held, the agency must secure approval from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF.
It noted that this approval is based on justification of manpower needs and compliance with the statutory three- or four-year minimum period staff must spend on a grade level before they are eligible for promotion.
Following the approval, a Senior Staff Committee was convened, comprising the ED/CEO, Council Directors, and representatives from the OHCSF, the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, and the Federal Civil Service Commission.
“With this composition, it is impossible for the ED/CEO to handpick or unilaterally decide who gets to sit for the promotion examinations,” the statement read.
It noted that the meeting for the upcoming exams was held on June 24, 2025, and the official circular listing 102 eligible candidates was issued on June 26, with no complaints so far from staff members.
The Council also addressed the issue of HND holders and promotion to Directorate levels, cited in the publication, saying it referenced a 2022 circular which affirms that without a university degree or approved postgraduate qualification, HND holders cannot rise above Grade Level 14. NEPC stated categorically that it has not violated this directive and has no intention to do so.
Responding to the report on Mr. Abayomi Akodu and Mr. Joshua Mani, the Council clarified that neither officer has taken the exams nor been promoted, adding that the claim of favoritism made in the report is purely speculative.
On one Mr. Salami, whom the report described as an associate of Mrs. Ayeni, NEPC clarified that Salami retired shortly after Mrs. Ayeni’s appointment and had no personal ties to her.
“He was no more than a diligent staff member in the Kano office,” the Council said, adding that the ED/CEO neither requests nor uses a convoy during field visits.
NEPC also explained how the exams are set and graded: Council Directors set the questions on exam day, invigilate, collate, and mark all scripts,often into the night.
According to the Council, the final results are submitted to the Director of HR, Director of Policy and Strategy, and the ED/CEO, adding that even then, a candidate who passes the exam may still not be promoted due to a lack of vacancies, a common but lawful reality in the public service.
“Is this unjust and inhumane or a strict adherence to the rules? You be the judge,” the statement remarked.
The Council therefore noted that the ED/CEO has no relatives, friends, or associates within the agency and that no job or promotion is being offered as a favour.
“The ED/CEO has no relative, friend or associate at the Council and no one is being offered a job or a promotion as a favour,” the statement emphasized.
The Council maintained that the promotion exercise scheduled for July 9–11 will proceed in strict compliance with civil service rules, and urged the public to disregard the SaharaReporters publication as unfounded and misleading.
