A cloud of discontent is gathering over the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) as several staff members, speaking under anonymity, have raised grave concerns over alleged manipulation and favoritism in the agency’s 2025 promotion exercise. The Executive Director, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, is at the center of the controversy, with accusations ranging from nepotism to deliberate flouting of civil service rules.
At the heart of the storm is the inclusion of Mr. Abayomi Akodu, a microbiology graduate, in the promotion exam for Director (Finance)—a role that typically requires a master’s degree in accounting or a related field. Staff allege that Akodu’s inclusion was “justified” on humanitarian grounds, a claim said to have been approved by the Head of Service (HOS). But aggrieved insiders insist no such approval exists and challenge NEPC to produce any formal document to that effect.
“There’s no known precedent where NEPC sought permission from HOS for promotions on humanitarian grounds. Why is it now suddenly applicable to account officers and not others who’ve faced similar disqualification?” one staff member questioned.
The grievances don’t end there. Staff allege that the original list of qualified candidates, reportedly drawn up by the Head of Department, was tampered with and replaced with a new one—filled with individuals who were either previously disqualified or lack the necessary qualifications.
An internal NEPC circular dated November 7, 2022, clearly outlines that only academic qualifications—not professional certificates—are acceptable for elevation to directorate levels. By these rules, HND holders, even with ICAN or ANAN certifications, are not eligible for promotion beyond grade level 14 without a postgraduate diploma and a relevant master’s degree.
“These same officers were denied participation in the 2024 exams under the exact same circular,” a source noted. “So what changed this year? Why the sudden U-turn?”
The scandal has also taken a deeper turn. Sources allege that NEPC paid N5 million to a civil society group that came to “show solidarity” with staff members, just days before a planned protest. It is claimed that the money was intended to disrupt further investigations and bury the story. A second group is also said to be on its way, indicating that the issue is far from resolved.
Even more troubling is the regional bias alleged by some staff, who accuse Mrs. Ayeni of favoring individuals from her southeastern origin for key positions—often bypassing more qualified or senior officers.
One particularly contentious case involves Mrs. Nkiru Uzo Nnabuife, who, despite facing disciplinary action in the past—including a suspension—was appointed to head the Audit Unit. Another case involved Mr. Kenneth Ezeagu, not a certified procurement officer, who was appointed to head the procurement unit after several certified officers were transferred, redeployed, or forced out.
“There are three certified procurement officers from the Bureau of Public Procurement who were pushed out just to make room for Ezeagu. How is this not nepotism?” another source asked.
The most serious charges revolve around alleged abuse of office and distortion of promotion procedures, including:
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Secretly replacing qualified officers with loyalists;
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Attempting to promote officers disqualified by civil service circulars;
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Creating and approving unauthorized lists of eligible candidates;
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Using public funds to suppress dissent and control the narrative;
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Sidelining federal regulations and ignoring oversight from the Head of Service.
Staff maintain that the current promotion process violates public service rules, and they question the role of the representatives from the Civil Service Commission, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, and the Head of Service, who were either absent or complicit during the June 24 Senior Staff Committee meeting that approved the controversial list.
Even within NEPC, past comments by Mrs. Ayeni are coming back to haunt her. Staff recall a January 2024 retreat in Badagry where she allegedly vowed to promote one Mr. M.A. Salami “no matter what.” She fulfilled that promise by April, despite Salami’s prior disqualification.
As frustration simmers, calls are mounting for the Head of Service and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to investigate the NEPC leadership. Staff argue that rules should be uniformly enforced, and favoritism—whether under the guise of “humanitarian grounds” or not—should have no place in public service.
Despite multiple attempts by SaharaReporters to get official responses from the Head of Service or relevant departments, calls and messages went unanswered. However, one Deputy Director, Mrs. Danielle Ladi, acknowledged that a formal process exists and urged aggrieved parties to submit written complaints for proper review.
For now, the voices inside NEPC remain firm:
“This is not a fight against individuals but a fight for equity and integrity in our civil service. The rules are clear—we just want them followed.”
As the promotion exams scheduled for July 9–11, 2025 draw near, the tension within the NEPC continues to escalate, with a growing sense that this controversy may be far from over.
