Ajuri Ngelale Resigns as Tinubu’s Spokesman Citing Family Health Concerns

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, has resigned from his position  stating medical concerns affecting his immediate family.

In a statement released on Saturday by the presidency, Ngelale announced that he had submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, notifying him of his decision to take an indefinite leave of absence.

Ngelale, who also held other key roles, confirmed he had stepped down from his duties as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.

He stated, “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.”

After significant consultations with his family, Ngelale said he made the difficult choice to step back from his responsibilities to focus on personal matters. He added, “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 & 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 expressed hope for a return to public service, stating, “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 me during this time.”

Ngelale had been serving in his roles since July 31, 2023, following an appointment made by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which specified that his tenure would last until the end of the administration, unless otherwise decided by the President.

Born November 1986, Ngelale was first appointed as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action May 2024, and also held positions as Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen and Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions.