‘Do What Is Right’ – Tinubu Tells NCC CEO Maida
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has thrown his support behind Aminu Maida, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), urging him to uphold merit in the Commission’s operations despite a brewing crisis over the recent staff promotion exercise.
Maida, who also serves as the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, has been at the centre of a controversy following the conclusion of the March 2025 promotion exercise, which has left some staff disgruntled. Those who did not meet the 70 percent pass mark have raised allegations of bias, fraud, and favoritism in the process.
The situation has led to the formation of a group called the “Concerned Staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission,” comprising aggrieved workers demanding a review of the exercise.
While Maida has not publicly responded to the concerns of the staff, he reportedly sought the intervention of President Tinubu.
The development was revealed by Sam Omatseye, chairman of the editorial board of a national newspaper, who documented his observations in an article titled “One Day With President Tinubu.”
Omatseye recounted how Maida approached the President to discuss recent hiring decisions amid intense political pressure to compromise on standards. According to Omatseye, Tinubu responded by reaffirming his commitment to merit. “I believe in merit. Do what is right,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.
The controversy stems from the promotion of 239 staff members at the Commission, which has become a flashpoint for tensions between management and employees.
Some staff members allege that the promotion exercise unfairly favoured colleagues who had previously been selected for high-profile foreign trainings at institutions such as Harvard University and the London School of Economics.
However, the NCC management has insisted that cost-saving measures imposed by the federal government necessitated a reduction in perks like overseas training and travel. The Commission says it has instead prioritised core staff welfare, including salaries, allowances, and other benefits.
Despite allegations that the pass mark was suddenly raised from 60 percent to 70 percent, records show that the 70 percent benchmark has been consistently applied over the past five years.
A breakdown of the 2025 promotion exercise by geopolitical zones reveals the following representation: South East – 25.74 percent; South South – 16.91 percent; South West – 16.91 percent; North Central – 13.97 percent; North West – 13.24 percent; and North East – 13.24 percent.
NCC leadership has maintained that the promotion exercise was conducted transparently and in line with long-standing standards, reiterating its commitment to fairness and performance-driven growth within the Commission.
