Nasir Ja’oji, Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Citizenship and Leadership, has appointed two Directors-General and five media aides—citing integrity and performance—prompting debate over the appropriateness of DG roles under an SSA.
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Citizenship and Leadership, Nasir Ja’oji, has appointed two “Directors-General” and five media aides to serve in his office. Ibrahim Farouk was named Director-General on Political Matters, while Ahmad Saleh took the post of Director-General on Media and Digital Communication.
Alongside the DGs, Ja’oji added Muhammad Sabiu Adam as Special Assistant (Media); Abbas Uba as Technical Assistant (Media); and Mustapha Yusuf Waziri, Usman Shuaibu and Safiyanu Mohammed Yunusa in the roles of Media Aides I, II and III respectively. According to Ja’oji, the criteria for these appointments were “integrity, an excellent record of performance, and hard work.”
Some observers have criticised the creation of “director-general” positions under the office of an SSA, arguing that DGs normally hold higher authority than SSAs in government structures. The move has stirred reactions on social media, with users questioning whether the appointments blur the lines of rank and constitutional propriety.
Ja’oji had only recently assumed his current role in August, replacing Rinsola Abiola, who was promoted to head the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre. Since then, he has made several key staff appointments.