The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is currently engulfed in internal turmoil following allegations of financial misconduct linked to a controversial nationwide staff redeployment exercise estimated to cost ₦72 million.
Multiple senior officials within the Council told SaharaReporters that the ₦72 million represents the total transfer allowances expected to be paid to officers affected by the mass redeployments across state and zonal offices. Sources clarified that the figure was not directly disbursed by the Executive Director, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni.
However, insiders insist that the expenditure was neither budgeted for in NEPC’s 2025 financial provisions nor captured in its approved procurement plan, raising serious concerns about compliance with public financial regulations.
Budgetary Breach Raises Alarm
According to internal sources, the alleged payment of such a large sum without appropriation has triggered widespread anxiety within the organisation, with staff viewing it as a potential breach of extant financial rules guiding public institutions.
‘Ego-Driven’ Redeployment Allegations
A senior official described the redeployment exercise as unnecessary and motivated by personal considerations rather than operational needs.
“Many officers are questioning why such a huge amount should be spent to satisfy what appears to be personal ego,” the source said. “Would this decision have been taken if NEPC were a private enterprise?”
Another insider echoed the sentiment, noting that the redeployment lacked clear justification, especially at a time when the Council is struggling with limited funding, declining staff welfare, and weak capacity-building initiatives.
Questions were also raised about the decision to prioritise transfer allowances when training programmes for 2024 were partially abandoned and those scheduled for 2025 allegedly never took place.
Alleged Misuse of Public Funds
A top source within the Council described the proposed payments as a misuse of public resources.
“Under existing financial regulations, this expenditure is widely seen as misappropriation,” the source said, adding that a responsible chief executive would have avoided creating what staff consider an unnecessary, wasteful, and provocative financial burden.
Fears of Short-Payment
Tensions reportedly escalated after information emerged that, despite the redeployments taking effect on December 1, 2025, affected officers are yet to receive their transfer allowances.
More concerning, staff allege that management plans to short-pay them by reducing their Daily Travelling Allowance (DTA) or paying kilometre allowances instead of air fares, contrary to Public Service Rules.
“This has generated deep anger and resentment,” a staff member said. “Many see it as unfair, unjust, and outright wicked.”
Others questioned why the redeployment was initiated without first assessing its full financial implications.
Emergency Staff Meeting and Appeal for Silence
The growing unrest reportedly forced an emergency General Staff Meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2025, held at the NEPC Auditorium in Abuja, with a Microsoft Teams link provided for officers in state offices.
Sources present at the meeting said Mrs. Ayeni appeared visibly unsettled and disorganised, occasionally making remarks perceived as inappropriate. She was also alleged to have appealed to staff not to escalate the matter, urging them to “keep our secrets from outsiders.”
The meeting reportedly followed a press statement by the Arewa Progressive Assembly (APA), published in Vanguard on January 9, 2026, calling on the ICPC and EFCC to investigate Mrs. Ayeni’s leadership at NEPC.
While Mrs. Ayeni reportedly promised to address several grievances, including the absence of staff training throughout 2025 and part of 2024, many officers left unconvinced, viewing her assurances as routine attempts to calm rising anger.
Strike Threat Emerges
With grievances unresolved and confidence in management waning, aggrieved staff are said to be considering a nationwide strike if their concerns are not urgently addressed.
“The atmosphere is highly charged,” a senior officer said. “Staff feel ignored, victimised, and abused.”
External Pressure Mounts
Beyond internal dissent, pressure from exporters and civil society groups has continued to grow. Several stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to intervene, citing alleged mismanagement and authoritarian leadership.
On May 29, 2025, a petition was sent to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, calling for an urgent probe and restructuring of NEPC. Similar appeals followed from the Agro-Tech Exporters Forum on June 23, 2025, and another petition was submitted on June 30, 2025 to the ICPC and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The APA’s January 9, 2026 statement is the latest in a series of public criticisms and media reports questioning the Council’s leadership.
Silence Fuels Suspicion
Despite the volume of petitions and public outcry, insiders expressed concern over the perceived inaction of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sources said expectations that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment would issue a statement or constitute an investigative panel have so far not been met, fuelling speculation and agitation.
The only reported intervention came from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, which allegedly halted plans to promote officers disqualified from the 2025 promotion exercise.
According to insiders, Mrs. Ayeni initially defied the directive until a special monitoring team from the Head of Service’s office reportedly intervened to stop the process. She is also accused of ignoring other directives without facing consequences.
“As far as we know, nothing has happened,” a source said. “She runs the Council like an island unto herself.”
Efforts to obtain comments from the NEPC spokesperson, Mr. Aliu Seidu Sadiq, were unsuccessful as of the time this report was filed.