Reps Panel Concludes Hearing On Petition Against NNRA DG

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

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Kwamoti Bitrus La’ori, announced the close of proceedings, saying the panel would now prepare its findings and recommendations.

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 the statutory requirements and serving as a deputy director for more than a decade.

Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Abdullahi expressed confidence that the committee would reach a fair decision based on the evidence presented.

According to him, he became due for promotion in 2011 but has remained on the rank of deputy director despite satisfying the conditions for advancement.

“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 alleged that interventions by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the supervising ministry failed to resolve the dispute, claiming that recommendations directing the NNRA to implement his promotion were not acted upon.

He also said the matter had previously been referred to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism of the House Committee on Public Petitions, but alleged that the NNRA management did not implement the committee’s recommendations.

The petitioner further alleged that despite completing and submitting his Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) forms, the agency failed to process them even after the committee directed the management to collect the documents.

He also raised concerns over the NNRA’s director-level promotion examination conducted on April 16, 2026, alleging that although he reported for the exercise after receiving an invitation, the examination was delayed and the venue later changed without his knowledge.

Abdullahi claimed that while other candidates were informed of the relocation, security personnel prevented him from accessing the new venue.

“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.

He further alleged that the delays in processing his promotion were intended to prevent him from attaining the rank of director before his retirement from service.

Despite his grievances, Abdullahi said he remained optimistic that the National Assembly would deliver justice.

“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.

He, however, expressed concern over the implementation of any recommendations that may emerge from the committee’s report, alleging that previous directives by oversight bodies had not been enforced.

At the conclusion of the hearing, and in the absence of the NNRA management, La’ori formally closed the proceedings and announced that the committee would prepare its final report, which is expected to contain its findings and recommendations on the petition.

The committee’s report will determine the next step in the dispute between Abdullahi and the NNRA.