A Veteran Journalist calls on NNRA to “Clean Its Act” amid promotion irregularities, absent of a governing board, and integrity concerns.
Veteran science journalist, a former NTA staff member and former spoke’s person of the NNRA Mr. Obiechina Obba has strongly urged the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) to immediately “clean up its act,” citing unfair staff promotions, the absence of a governing board, and lapses in integrity that are undermining public confidence in the agency’s ability to regulate Nigeria’s nuclear energy ambitions.
In a detailed statement, Mr. Obba criticized what he described as the unjust sidelining of senior, qualified officials in favour of juniors, describing the trend as “not proper” and contrary to civil service rules. Urging authorities to allow Barr Abdulhadi Abdullahi the affected senior staff member, said to be retiring in September, to “go happily” without further humiliation.
Reacting to the media coverage of the issues at the Public Petition Committee of the House of Representatives between Mr Abdulhadi Abdullahi and the NNRA and the video of the officer being blocked by the armed security personnel which had gone viral as unfortunate situation. He argued that such decisions undermine morale and fairness in the civil service.
“Civil service should be a truthful decision. If the civil service rules are against the senior officer, so be it. But if you take him and place him under a junior, it’s not proper. How is it acceptable?” He argued ?
Mr Obba linked these internal issues to broader concerns about the NNRA’s credibility, especially as Nigeria pursues nuclear power generation through the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), which the NNRA is responsible for licensing and regulating.
According to Mr Obba “There’s no board in NNRA. Even when I was sacked, there was no board. So no board to handle it. How can a government agency not have a governing board? These are things that the board can handle and these are things to be resolved quietly.”
He emphasised the critical need for the highest standards of conduct and integrity within the nuclear regulator, warning of the sector’s enormous stakes.
“You know what a nuclear regulator is? They will regulate the use of nuclear energy. Give the highest level of conduct. Nuclear energy can wipe out Nigeria. Yes! We need a high level of integrity.”
Mr. Obba furthrer linked the internal issues to broader erosion of public trust, stressing that transparency is essential for Nigerians to accept nuclear power generation.
“We don’t have confidence in NNRA. People don’t have confidence that the NNRA are regulating nuclear safety. Highest level of transparency is important. People should believe that NNRA is capable to ensure Nigeria have nuclear power plants to generate electricity.”
Mr Obba drew from his own experiences, including a court matter involving his NTA service where he said the station was not properly heard as a party, underscoring the importance of fair hearing. Mr. Obinna clarified that he seeks no new earnings but only deferred entitlements such as arrears, wardrobe allowance, and leave earned during his active years, insisting there should be no conflict of interest with his regulatory role.
As a respected science journalist known for international coverage and whom is still called upon for expert opinion and analysis, Mr. Obba made referenced to Nigeria’s satellite achievements, noting Africa’s growing number of satellites (over 70) but there is absence of indigenous launch capability, to illustrate his commitment to national service in technical fields.
He maintained that addressing these issues is “not too late” and would strengthen the NNRA as it oversees the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) in the nation’s pursuit of nuclear-generated electricity.
A retired Director of the NNRA who left long ago and spoke with the corespondent on condition not be named said Mr Abdullahi was long overdue for promotion and was unfairly treated by the NNRA . He called on government to leave up to its responsibilities and provide the necessary oversight of the Agency Another Deputy Director who also retired from the NNRA reiterated the fact it is the DG who ensures who becomes Director and who is not. According to the retired Deputy Director who also spoke on condition not be named said the DG has been operating as he likes since he assumed leadership in the NNRA . He stated that the problems between Mr Abdullahi and the DG is personal hence the protracted promotion crisis of Mr Abdullahi.
A petition to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation seen by this corespondent dated 12th December 2022 signed by Mr Abdullahi and 3 others who were denied participation during promotion exercise by the NNRA and copied to all Ministers who are statutory Board members including the Secretary to government of the Federation and the Chief of Staff to Mr President appears to confirmed that NNRA has been operating and sidelining its Governing Board. Further evidence that NNRA is operating without a Board is a response to an appeal written by the NNRA via internal memo dated 11th January 2021 to Mr Abdullahi and 3 others Deputy Directors who were denied participation in promotion examination to the post of Directors states that only “the Senior Staff Management Committee (SSMC) not the Board has power to take further decisions on the matter” signed by Mr Mathias M Vyanku MCIA for the Director General. A further proof to show that the establishment Committee of the NNRA Board was not involved in promotion examination at the Director-cadre
Other stakeholders argued that the NNRA has not yet issued a categorical response to the concerns generated by the out cry of Mr Abdullahi’s crisis. Many observers say restoring internal fairness, board functionality, and transparency will be crucial for building the public confidence needed to advance Nigeria’s nuclear energy programme safely and credibly.
Stakeholders opine that government silence and inability to sanction officials who refuses to carry lawful directives or implement circulars are to be blamed for crisis going on the NNRA. Pundit wondered why an important Agency of National and International importance was left to itself without the required statutory supervision of its Governing Board leaving the NNRA management to deal with senior staff issues the way they like.
An acknowledged copy of a letter titled “An appeal for intervention On Report on the Committee on the Regularization of Appointment and Staff Audit of Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority 2020 and Promotion Stagnation “ dated the 25th August 2025 addressed to the Chief of Staff to Mr President like other previous appeals on the persistent refusal by the NNRA Management to promote Mr Abdullahii is yet to be addressed by the Federal Government. There is yet another acknowledged copy of serious and detailed number of
Corruptions and misconduct written by Mr Abdullahi and addressed to the Chief of Staff to Mr President dated April 2026 (seen by this reporter) which provided details of several allegations bothering on corruption and misconduct by the DG NNRA.to which the public awaits the response from the Government.
