The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has adjourned the hearing on a petition concerning promotion-related administrative issues in the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority to March 11, 2026.

The adjournment is intended to allow the parties to explore alternative dispute resolution to achieve an amicable settlement.

The petition was filed by Abdulhadi Abdullahi, a deputy general manager (legal) with the National Institute of Radiation Protection and Research, a technical service organisation to the NNRA.

The petition, numbered 732 of 2025, seeks the intervention of the committee over the outcome of the 2020 NNRA Committee on Regularisation of Appointment and Staff Audit, as well as issues relating to prolonged promotion stagnation.

It also raises concerns over salary-related matters, workplace treatment, and disciplinary procedures affecting the petitioner.

Deputy chairman of the committee, Attorney Nwogu, emphasised the need for a pragmatic resolution, urging both parties to avoid protracted administrative disputes that could affect careers and institutional harmony.

Mr Nwogu said governance must be continuous and that officers should not be adversely affected by procedural gaps beyond their control, particularly when supervising officers have retired or administrative structures have changed.

He said the committee was committed to ensuring that no party was unduly disadvantaged and to achieving a fair and equitable resolution.

Following deliberations, the committee proposed ADR as the most viable means of resolving the dispute, a suggestion accepted by the parties.

Consequently, the committee adjourned the matter to March 11, 2026, to enable the parties to engage ADR mechanisms with a view to an amicable settlement.

The committee also reiterated its commitment to protecting the constitutional right of citizens and public officers to petition the National Assembly without fear of intimidation or administrative sanctions.

In his submission, Mr Abdullahi said that disciplinary measures were initiated against him after his appearance before the committee at an earlier public hearing on December 9, 2025.

He said the measures included a query issued on January 5, 2026, his response dated January 6, a warning letter dated January 8, and the constitution of a disciplinary panel.

Deliberations at the hearing also focused on issues surrounding the petitioner’s Annual Performance Evaluation Report.

Mr Abdullahi said he submitted his APER during his promotion year, but that the assessment process was not concluded, adding that documentary evidence and email correspondence had been presented to the committee.

He said responsibility for the assessment lay with the supervising directorate at the relevant time, noting that his former supervisor had retired.

Representatives of the NNRA and affiliated agencies, who appeared on behalf of the director-general, said that administrative procedures require proper supervisory assessment of APERs and that gaps exist in the evaluation process.

Committee members, however, noted that the submissions did not dispute the APER’s submission but reflected differing views on responsibility for its assessment and approval.

(NAN)