By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Amid an escalating promotion scandal and allegations of financial mismanagement, staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently dissolve the commission’s current management and constitute a new board.
The call follows a controversial March 2025 promotion exercise, which staff described as riddled with favoritism, ethnic bias, and political manipulation. Internal documents revealed that 239 staff were promoted, but insiders allege the process lacked transparency, fairness, and board or ministerial approval.
Speaking anonymously due to fear of victimization, several aggrieved staff told SaharaReporters that the current executive management has lost credibility and is running the commission in a manner inconsistent with national development goals and President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
“The situation at the NCC mirrors what happened at the NNPC, where the president sacked the board he appointed because they failed to align with national priorities,” one staff member said. “We believe the same should happen here. The Telecom industry is too vital to be mismanaged.”
Staff members also criticized what they see as increasing cronyism and internal division, with one alleging that “to attend a conference now, you must worship someone or falsely accuse a colleague.”
Citing a decline in morale and professional standards, the staff called for the president to appoint a new Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), executive commissioners, and non-executive commissioners to restore transparency, accountability, and professionalism in the agency.
They said the previous boards, notably during the tenure of the late Alhaji Ahmad Joda (2000–2010), were focused on leadership and impartiality, unlike the current board which they claim has been “pocketed” by the CEO and fixated on contracts.
In response to the allegations, Nnena Ukoha, Acting Head of Public Affairs at NCC, defended the promotion process. She stated that it followed due process, adhered to Public Service Rules, and was supervised by credible personnel, including external observers and the Federal Character Commission.
Ukoha emphasized that promotions were merit-based and aligned with the commission’s manpower plan. “Staff who did not meet the required cut-off, or for whom no vacancies were available, could not be promoted,” she said.
Despite the official rebuttal, internal dissent remains strong. Some staff warned that unless urgent reforms are implemented, the commission risks losing its legacy as one of Nigeria’s top-performing regulatory agencies.
(Sahara Reporters)
