Tinubu pulls back NTA appointments, restores previous leadership

In a surprising development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rescinded recent leadership changes at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), reinstating Salihu Abdullahi Dembos as Director-General and Ayo Adewuyi as Executive Director of News.

This move comes less than two weeks after President Tinubu’s August 20, 2025 announcement appointing Rotimi Pedro and Stella Din to replace Dembos and Adewuyi, respectively. The reversal raises questions about the decision-making process behind the initial reshuffle.

According to a statement released Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the recall was ordered because Dembos had “briefly vacated the post following some management changes in the agency.” Dembos, originally appointed by President Tinubu in October 2023, is set to resume and complete his initial three-year tenure.

Similarly, Adewuyi, who was appointed in 2024 and whose term is due to end in 2027, has been directed to return to his position as Executive Director of News. Onanuga’s statement emphasized that “the new directive effectively reversed the previously announced appointments of a director-general, executive director of news, executive director of marketing, and managing director of NTA Enterprises.”

The sudden reinstatement invites scrutiny into the reasons behind the initial appointments and what factors influenced the swift change of direction. Stakeholders in the media industry are watching closely for further clarity on how this development might affect the leadership stability and operational direction of Nigeria’s premier television authority.