The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has dismissed reports circulating on some online platforms claiming that its staff is planning to embark on a strike, describing the reports as false and misleading.
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.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Head of Corporate Communications, Aliu Sadiq, the council said there was no planned or contemplated strike action within the agency.
“The purported strike action is false, baseless and should be disregarded by the general public,” the statement said.
Chairman of the ASCSN, NEPC Unit, Comrade Moruf Ogunlana, also confirmed that the council continues to enjoy industrial harmony. He said neither the union nor its members were consulted on any alleged strike call and distanced the association from the online reports.
Ogunlana reaffirmed the union’s commitment to maintaining a cooperative relationship with the council’s management.
Addressing claims about the appointment of directors, the NEPC said no new directors had been appointed. It explained that the existing organisational structure remains in place while management continues to strengthen staff capacity and professional development across all departments.
The council noted that it has expanded career progression opportunities by widening the directorate cadre and creating additional advancement pathways for employees.
According to the statement, staff welfare has also improved significantly, with more than 75 per cent of NEPC personnel receiving professional training in various fields since 2023.
The council highlighted several initiatives introduced under the leadership of its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni. Among them is the Export Skills Acquisition Centre (ESAC), which has trained more than 500 youths and women in garment and bag production for export.
Management and the union also dismissed allegations of favouritism and nepotism, describing them as unfounded.
The NEPC further pointed to Nigeria’s non-oil export performance, stating that the country recorded non-oil exports worth $6.1 billion in 2025—the highest value since the council was established.
It attributed the achievement to reforms and export promotion initiatives aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The council also said it has implemented a comprehensive third-party certification programme covering Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Halal and ISO standards. The programme has enabled more than 150 Nigerian exporters to secure internationally recognised certifications and expand into global markets.
The NEPC urged the public to disregard the strike reports and reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining industrial harmony while advancing Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.