By Media360Impact | Abuja
Fresh concerns have emerged over governance and internal administration at the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), with a veteran science journalist, retired officials and other stakeholders urging the Federal Government to strengthen oversight of the agency by constituting its governing board and addressing allegations of unfair staff promotion practices.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding a longstanding promotion dispute involving Barrister Abdulhadi Abdullahi, veteran science journalist and former spokesperson of the NNRA, Mr. Obiechina Obba, called on the agency to “clean up its act,” warning that issues affecting transparency and fairness could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s nuclear regulatory system.
Obba, who also served with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), described reports that a senior officer was allegedly placed under the supervision of a junior officer as inconsistent with civil service principles.
According to him, if civil service regulations do not favour an officer, such rules should be respected, but where a qualified senior officer is subordinated to a junior, it raises concerns about fairness and due process.
He also described as unfortunate the widely circulated video showing armed security personnel preventing Mr. Abdullahi from gaining access to the NNRA premises following proceedings before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions.
Concerns Over Governing Board
Obba further questioned the absence of a governing board at the NNRA, arguing that many of the agency’s internal disputes should ordinarily be resolved through statutory oversight mechanisms.
“There is no board in NNRA. Even when I was there, there was no board. How can an important government agency operate without a governing board? These are issues a board should ordinarily handle,” he said.
He stressed that, given the NNRA’s responsibility for regulating nuclear safety and licensing activities connected with Nigeria’s nuclear energy programme, the agency must uphold the highest standards of transparency and institutional integrity.
“Nuclear regulation demands the highest level of integrity because of the enormous responsibility involved. Nigerians must have confidence that the regulator can effectively safeguard public safety,” Obba stated.
He added that public trust would be critical as Nigeria advances plans for nuclear-generated electricity through the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC).
Retired Officials Speak
A retired NNRA Director, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, alleged that Mr. Abdullahi had been overdue for promotion and was unfairly treated.
The retired official called on the Federal Government to provide stronger statutory oversight of the agency.
Another retired Deputy Director, who also spoke anonymously, alleged that the Director-General exercises significant influence over appointments to Director-level positions and claimed that the prolonged promotion dispute involving Mr. Abdullahi stemmed from personal disagreements.
Documents Raise Questions
Documents seen by Media360Impact indicate that concerns over promotion processes within the NNRA have been raised for several years.
One petition dated December 12, 2022, signed by Mr. Abdullahi and three other officers and addressed to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with copies sent to senior government officials, questioned their exclusion from promotion exercises and raised concerns about the role of the agency’s governing board.
Another internal memo dated January 11, 2021, responding to an appeal by the affected officers, reportedly stated that the Senior Staff Management Committee (SSMC) had the authority to take further decisions on the matter. The memo, signed on behalf of the Director-General, did not reference any decision of the agency’s governing board regarding the disputed promotion exercise.
The documents have been cited by stakeholders as evidence suggesting that promotion matters were handled administratively without the involvement of the board’s Establishment Committee.
Calls for Government Action
Stakeholders also expressed concern over what they described as the Federal Government’s delayed response to multiple petitions submitted over the years.
Among the documents reviewed by Media360Impact is an acknowledged appeal dated August 25, 2025, addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, seeking intervention in what the petitioners described as prolonged promotion stagnation within the NNRA.
Another petition submitted in April 2026 reportedly contained allegations of corruption and misconduct against the Director-General. As of the time of filing this report, there has been no publicly known government response to those allegations.
Stakeholders Demand Reforms
Observers argue that restoring confidence in the NNRA will require improved transparency, adherence to civil service procedures, effective statutory oversight through a governing board, and prompt resolution of internal disputes.
They maintain that as Nigeria pursues its nuclear energy ambitions, confidence in the country’s nuclear regulator will depend not only on technical competence but also on institutional accountability and good governance.
