By Gideon Maxwell
September 7, 2024
In a significant development, Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, has announced that he is proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to address urgent medical matters affecting his immediate family.
“On Friday, 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 frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family,” Ngelale stated.
“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home,” he said.
However, Ngelale expressed his hope for a return to his duties once the situation improves.
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“I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit. I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and I during this time,” he added.
This decision takes effect immediately, with no specified date for his return, as Ngelale steps down from his roles to focus on his family’s health.
“I respectfully request privacy for my family and me during this period,” Ngelale stated.
Ngelale, who was appointed as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity on July 31, 2023, and later as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action on May 19, 2024, has been serving in both roles.
