The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has announced that he will be taking an indefinite leave of absence.
Ngelale stated that the decision came after extensive consultations with his family in response to a worsening medical situation. He shared this update in a statement issued on Saturday, noting that the health issues affecting his immediate family required his full attention.
Official Communication
In his statement, Ngelale confirmed that he has formally notified the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of his decision. Along with his role as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ngelale has also stepped down from other key positions. He was serving as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.
“I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to deal directly with medical matters presently affecting my immediate family,” Ngelale explained.
Ngelale emphasized that this difficult decision followed significant deliberations with his family as the situation at home worsened. Despite his dedication to his duties, he felt it was necessary to prioritize his family during this challenging period.
“I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man. However, after significant consultations with my family over the past several days, I have decided to step back from my roles as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman of the Project Evergreen Steering Committee.”
Ngelale expressed hope that he would return to his duties once his family’s situation improves, asking for privacy during this time. “I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit. In the meantime, I respectfully request some privacy for my family and me.”
Temporary Suspension of Duties
The indefinite leave means that Ngelale will temporarily suspend his responsibilities as spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu. It remains unclear who will take over his duties during his absence.
