NEPC dismisses ‘nepotism’ reports on promotion exams, says due process followed

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has dismissed allegations that the forthcoming promotion examinations at the council are being conducted in violation of due process.

In a statement on Wednesday, Lawal Shehu Dalhat, the NEPC’s director of policy and strategy, said the council‘s attention was drawn to an online publication regarding its promotion examinations which is scheduled to hold from July 9 to July 11.

According to the statement, the online publication accused Nonye Ayeni, NEPC’s executive director and chief executive officer (CEO), of “carrying out appointments in violation of procedures.”

Dalhat in response, described the report as “misinformation” and a “poor understanding” of how promotion examinations are conducted in the civil service.

“What this means is that Mrs. Ayeni has been accused and convicted of an offence which, according to the publication of July 2 2025, she is planning to commit seven days after she has been found guilty. Can there be a more shocking and unkind miscarriage of justice,” the statement reads.

“To put things in context, last year, 74 members of staff of the Council sat for promotion examinations from 3-4 April, 2024 which ran all day up until past midnight. 49 passed and were promoted. It was adjudged free, fair and without irregularities and bias.

“The success of that exercise which was not disputed by one single member of staff or management was a clear demonstration of Mrs. Ayeni’s attention to detail, strict adherence to extant civil service rules and her long experience as a past Head of Human Resources at Zenith Bank Plc, a fact many people at the council were not even aware of.”

HOW THE EXAMINATION PROCESS WORKS

Dalhat said before any promotion exam is held, the council writes to the office of the head of service (HoS) to seek approval, accompanied by justification, including confirmation that candidates have met the three to four-year minimum requirement on their current grade level.

Upon approval by the HoS, she said the senior staff committee — comprising the NEPC CEO, council directors, representatives from the HoS, federal ministry of trade and investment, and the federal civil service commission — convenes to determine the modalities for the interviews and exams.

The director said it is, therefore, impossible for any individual, including the CEO, to unilaterally “handpick” who gets to sit for the promotion examinations.

He added that the senior staff committee met on June 24, 2025, to discuss the upcoming promotion examinations, after which a circular was issued to all staff on June 26, 2025, in line with civil service procedures, along with the names of 102 eligible candidates.

“As at the time of writing, not a single complaint has been received so it is perplexing to read… of discontent within the council,” he said.

He said report cited the civil service rules regarding promotions for staff without degrees or with HND certificates.

“A holder of a Higher National Diploma (HND) and a professional certificate (ICAN, ANAN, or COREN), without a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) and a Master’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field from a recognized university, cannot be promoted to the Directorate level in the Public Service as stipulated in the extant scheme of service,” he said.

The director also clarified issues around the eligibility of HND holders for promotion to directorate positions, referencing a 2022 circular by the head of service stating that “all HND holders terminate on SGL 14 in the public service, whether with or without professional qualifications”.

He noted that the NEPC promotion exercise has not violated this directive.

‘CEO HAS NO FRIENDS WITHIN NEPC’

Responding to claims involving specific members of staff, the NEPC official said the individuals named in the report — including Abayomi Akodu and Joshua Mani — have not sat for the exams and no promotions have been granted.

He added that the council follows strict civil service processes in setting, administering, and marking the examinations, with directors responsible for question setting and grading, and final results handled by the director of human resources, director of policy and strategy, and the CEO.

Dalhat explained that even after passing, staff may not be promoted if there are no available vacancies above their grade level, in line with public service rules.

The NEPC official insisted that the CEO has no relatives, friends, or associates within the council, stressing that no job or promotion is being granted as a favour.