Abuja, Nigeria
Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, has proceeded on an indefinite leave of absence for medical reasons.
Ngelale said his decision followed significant consultations with his family over the past days as a vexatious medical situation had worsened.
He disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday, explaining that he has sent a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He also explained the need for him to step down as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“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.”
A leave of absence is a situation where an official would temporarily vacate his official duties for a period of time to attend to other things.
