NEPC, Workers’ Union Urge Public To Ignore False Planned Strike Reports

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NEPC Unit, have urged the public to disregard reports alleging that staff of the Council are planning to embark on strike, insisting that the claims are false and unfounded.

The clarification followed a joint meeting between the Council’s management and the leadership of the ASCSN, where both parties reaffirmed that industrial harmony remains intact and that there is no planned or contemplated industrial action within the organisation.

The Council, in a statement by its Head of Corporate Communications, Aliu Seidu Sadiq, described the reported strike as “false, baseless and should be disregarded by the general public

According to the statement, the Chairman of the ASCSN, NEPC Unit, Comrade Moruf Ogunlana, confirmed that the union was neither consulted nor involved in any alleged strike plan, distancing the union from the online publications.

The union also pledged its continued cooperation with the management to sustain the peaceful working relationship that has existed within the Council.

Addressing reports of alleged appointments of directors, the management clarified that no new directors had been appointed. It explained that the Council would continue to operate with its existing organisational structure while strengthening staff capacity through continuous training and professional development.

The Council noted that under the leadership of its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, opportunities for staff career progression have expanded through the widening of the directorate cadre and the creation of advancement pathways across all levels.

It added that staff welfare has also improved significantly, with more than 75 per cent of employees receiving professional training since 2023.

NEPC further highlighted the establishment of the Export Skills Acquisition Centre (ESAC), which has trained over 500 youths and women in garment and bag production for export.

The Council and the union also dismissed allegations of favouritism and nepotism, describing them as unfounded.

The union maintained that Ayeni has consistently demonstrated fairness, professionalism and inclusiveness in managing the Council’s workforce.

The statement added that since Ayeni assumed office in 2023, the Council has recorded notable achievements, including Nigeria’s highest-ever non-oil export value of $6.1 billion in 2025, which it attributed to initiatives aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

It also said the Council has implemented a robust third-party certification programme covering HACCP, FDA, HALAL and ISO standards, enabling more than 150 exporters to secure internationally recognised certifications and improve access to global markets.

The Council reiterated its commitment to maintaining cordial labour relations and working with all stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda, urging the public to ignore what it described as misleading reports of a planned strike.