Reps Panel Closes Hearing on Petition Against NNRA DG, Reserves Final

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, has concluded its hearing into a petition filed against the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), Dr Yau Usman Idris.

Therefore, the Committee’s Chairman, Hon. Kwamoti Bitrus La’ori, announced that the matter had been closed for the preparation of a final report.

The petition was filed by Abdulhadi Attah Abdullahi, a pioneer staff member of the NNRA, who alleged that he had been unjustly denied promotion to the rank of Director despite meeting all the requirements and serving as a Deputy Director for over a decade.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the committee’s sitting, Abdullahi expressed confidence in the integrity of the House Committee, stating that he believes lawmakers would deliver justice based on the documentary evidence before them.

Abdullahi said, his ordeal dates back to 2011 when he first became due for promotion on merit but despite being one of the agency’s pioneer staff members and satisfying the statutory requirements, the NNRA management allegedly refused to elevate him at several times.

“I have been on this matter since 2021. I became due for promotion to the position of Director on merit. I am one of the pioneer staff members of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, but I have remained on the rank of Deputy Director for over 10 years, whereas the normal progression should have taken only about four years,” he said.

Abdullahi further noted that several interventions by relevant government institutions, including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the supervising ministry, failed to resolve the matter.

He stated that reports and recommendations forwarded to the NNRA management directing that his promotion be implemented were allegedly ignored.

According to the petitioner, the dispute was previously referred to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism of the House Committee on Public Petitions, where, he said, efforts were made to amicably resolve the matter.

He alleged that despite the committee’s interventions, the Director-General declined to implement the recommendations.

One of the issues raised during the proceedings, according to Abdullahi, was the submission of his Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) forms.

He maintained that he duly completed the required forms and alleged that even after the committee directed the NNRA management to collect them, the agency declined to do so.

The petitioner also recounted events surrounding the NNRA’s Director-level promotion examination conducted on April 16, 2026.

According to him, he reported for the exercise after receiving an invitation but alleged that the examination was delayed for several hours following his arrival.

He further claimed that the venue was subsequently moved from the Authority’s ground-floor conference hall to the fourth-floor boardroom without prior notice to him.

Abdullahi alleged that while other candidates were informed of the change, he was prevented from accessing the new venue by security personnel, including armed police officers and security operatives.

“I was the only person blocked from entering the examination venue. I documented the entire incident because I knew it might later be denied,” he alleged.

The petitioner further expressed concerns that the delays in processing his promotion may have been intended to prevent him from attaining the rank of Director before his retirement from service.

Despite his grievances, Abdullahi said he remains optimistic that the National Assembly would reach a fair and objective conclusion.

“I believe this committee is doing the right thing. They listen to Nigerians with genuine complaints and examine documents without bias or favoritism. I believe they will do justice,” he said.

However, he expressed reservations about whether any eventual recommendations would be implemented, alleging that previous directives from oversight bodies had not been complied with.

He further claimed that he had written petitions to the Presidency and other relevant authorities over the matter but alleged that no decisive action had been taken.

At the conclusion of the hearing, In the absence of the management of NNRA, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, La’ori, formally closed the case and announced that the committee would proceed to prepare its final report, which is expected to contain its findings and recommendations on the petition.

The committee’s final report is expected to determine the next course of action regarding the dispute between Abdullahi and the NNRA.