Joel Ajayi
The Director-General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), Dr. Yau Usman Idris, has come under renewed scrutiny over allegations that he has repeatedly failed to comply with directives issued by the Federal Government, raising concerns about accountability and adherence to the Public Service Rules.
At the centre of the dispute is Barr. Abdulhadi Attah Abdullahi, a pioneer staff member of the NNRA, Fellow of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in legal affairs, and widely regarded as Nigeria’s and Africa’s first certified nuclear lawyer. He is also said to be the agency’s most senior officer after the Director-General.
According to documents and claims by stakeholders familiar with the matter, the controversy dates back to 2020 when Barr. Abdullahi and three other senior officers were reportedly prevented from participating in the Director-grade promotion examination, despite vacancies approved by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and budgetary provisions reportedly made by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The decision sparked protests from the NNRA staff unions, prompting the establishment of a joint committee in 2021 comprising representatives of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNRA management and the agency’s unions.
The committee reportedly submitted its findings in 2022, recommending that the affected officers be promoted. However, stakeholders allege that the recommendations were never implemented by the NNRA management.
The matter resurfaced in 2024 when the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources reportedly directed the NNRA through an official memo to establish, among other departments, a Department of International Cooperation and Legal Services. The proposed department was expected to address the career progression of the agency’s senior legal officer, who was reportedly the only qualified officer for the position.
Sources allege that the directive was not implemented.
Despite the absence of a legal department, Barr. Abdullahi was said to have remained qualified to compete for other Director-level positions based on his qualifications and extensive experience across the agency’s technical departments. However, critics allege that he was overlooked while another officer, a pharmacy graduate, was appointed to head the Department of Authorization and Enforcement after allegedly receiving accelerated promotions that bypassed the Deputy General Manager rank.
Similarly, the Nuclear Security Centre, which is expected to be headed by a Director, is reportedly being coordinated by an Assistant General Manager, while all serving Directors are said to be junior to Barr. Abdullahi, whose last promotion reportedly came in 2016.
The dispute reached another peak during the 2026 promotion exercise, which coincided with Barr. Abdullahi’s mandatory retirement year. It is alleged that he was denied access to the promotion examination venue by security personnel.
Following the incident, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources reportedly issued another directive in April 2026, instructing the NNRA Director-General to promote the officer within two weeks. However, stakeholders claim the directive was again not implemented.
The allegations suggest that from 2020 to 2026, the affected officer and others were denied opportunities for career advancement despite repeated interventions by relevant government authorities.
Observers argue that such actions, if established, could amount to non-compliance with Chapter 10 of the Federal Government Public Service Rules (2021), which classifies disobedience to lawful directives from superior authorities as serious misconduct attracting disciplinary measures.
Sources further claim that petitions on the matter have been submitted to the Presidency since 2021, but no decisive action has been taken, raising questions about the enforcement of government directives and oversight of federal agencies.
Stakeholders are therefore calling on the Presidency and the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil) to intervene by enforcing the April 2026 directive before the officer retires from service, warning that continued inaction could undermine confidence in the civil service promotion system and the rule of law.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has concluded hearings into the dispute between Barr. Abdulhadi Attah Abdullahi and the NNRA management. Following the reported failure of the NNRA management to appear before the committee, lawmakers are expected to issue a final report containing their findings and recommendations on the matter.
