The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, has dismissed recent allegations of nepotism and abuse of office, describing them as deliberate falsehoods orchestrated to malign her leadership and distract her from her duties.
According to Vanguard, Ayeni maintained that her stewardship at the NEPC has remained guided by integrity, due process, and alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda during an interview on Thursday.
“I am a woman of integrity. Mr. President’s agenda is my priority. I have not been nepotistic, and I have never abused my office. These allegations are lies, deliberately crafted to distract me from doing my job,” she stated.
Her reaction comes in the wake of a report by an online platform, which alleged that she unlawfully removed a certified procurement officer from his position and replaced him with a less qualified officer from her ethnic group. The report claims the move breached Public Service Rules and raised questions of ethnic bias within the agency.
Sources alleged that the redeployment was aimed at positioning a loyalist, Kenneth, described as “her eyes in the department,” in charge of the Procurement Unit. “She placed Kenneth there deliberately. He is now her eyes in the department. The decision violated due process,” a source claimed.
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Beyond the procurement controversy, other insiders alleged that Ayeni has used staff redeployments as a form of intimidation, punishing dissenting voices and consolidating control through arbitrary transfers, actions said to be contrary to civil service regulations.
While Public Service Rule 020602 provides room for redeployment under a formal Employee Mobility Policy, staff sources noted that NEPC currently has no such approved policy, thereby casting doubt on the legality of the transfers.
“There is no approved mobility policy at NEPC, which makes these transfers questionable,” a staff member reportedly told the media.
Reacting to the accusations, Ayeni cautioned against the spread of unverified information and urged media outlets to uphold journalistic ethics by confirming facts before publication.
“Mischief-makers must stop spreading falsehood. I also advise media houses to always fact-check their stories before going to press,” she warned.
Despite the storm surrounding her leadership, Dr. Ayeni reaffirmed her commitment to good governance and national development under President Tinubu’s administration, stating that her focus remains on fulfilling the council’s mandate in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
