KEY POINTS

• Ajuri Ngelale steps down to address urgent family medical issues.
• He holds multiple roles, including spokesperson and presidential envoy.
• Ngelale requests privacy during his indefinite leave of absence.

Ajuri Ngelale, spokesperson for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, has stepped down temporarily to address critical health concerns affecting his family.

In a public statement, Ngelale shared that he’s taking an indefinite leave of absence from his role as Special Adviser on Media $ Publicity and his other official duties to focus on the pressing medical issues of his immediate family.

The decision, he explained, followed careful deliberations with loved ones as the situation worsened. Ngelale stressed the difficulty of pausing his responsibilities but felt it was the necessary course of action under the circumstances.

Family comes first

Ngelale, known for his high-profile role in Tinubu’s administration, issued a memo to the President’s Chief of Staff, outlining his decision.

“While I understand that the affairs of the state wait for no one,” Ngelale explained, “this agonizing decision was made after consulting my family.” He added that he hopes to return to public service when time and healing allow. For now, however, he’s fully committed to supporting his family through this challenging period.

Privacy requested during personal time

Ngelale’s step down affects several key positions he holds. Besides serving as the official spokesperson for President Tinubu, he also leads various initiatives such as his role as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chair of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.

According to Punch, Ngelale requested privacy as he steps out of the public eye to handle his family’s health crisis. He made a heartfelt appeal for understanding, emphasizing that his current priority is being present for his loved ones.

“I look forward to returning to national service when fate permits,” he stated, leaving the door open for his eventual return.