The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) is Nigeria’s national public broadcaster, and the “authentic voice” of the Nigerian government with the largest television network in Africa. NTA plays a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, disseminating government information, and promoting national unity. Its mandate includes informing, educating, and entertaining the public while promoting cultural integration. Despite facing criticism for perceived government bias and increasing competition from private broadcasters, NTA remains a critical infrastructure for government communication and national broadcasting. This strategic importance makes its leadership a matter of significant public interest and explains why changes at its helm often reflect broader political currents within the administration .
The recent leadership crisis at NTA must be understood within this context of the organization’s strategic significance to government communication and public discourse. The authority operates numerous state and community stations and its programming often reflects government policies and national priorities, making it a valuable asset for any administration.
October 2023: President Bola Tinubu appointed Salihu Abdullahi Dembos as Director-General of NTA with a stipulated three-year tenure expected to run until 2026. This appointment was part of broader leadership changes across government agencies early in the Tinubu administration .
· 2024: President Tinubu appointed Ayo Adewuyi as Executive Director of News with a three-year term scheduled to conclude in 2027. These appointments established a clear leadership framework with defined tenure expectations for the organization’s top management.
ii. Sudden Removal and Replacement
· August 20, 2025: In a surprising move, President Tinubu announced a complete overhaul of NTA’s leadership through a statement posted on the Presidency’s official X handle (@NGRPresident). The changes included the appointment of Rotimi Richard Pedro (from Lagos, South-West) as the new Director-General, replacing Dembos .
· Additional appointments announced simultaneously included:
· Karimah Bello (Katsina, North-West) as Executive Director of Marketing
· Stella Din (Plateau, North-Central) as Executive Director of News
· Sophia Issa Mohammed (Adamawa, North-East) as Managing Director of NTA Enterprises Limited
· The statement indicated that these appointments took immediate effect, suggesting an abrupt transition that surprised many industry observers .
iii. Unexpected Reversal and Reinstatement
· September 2, 2025: President Tinubu reversed his earlier decision, directing the reinstatement of Dembos as Director-General to complete his three-year tenure. This dramatic U-turn was announced by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy .
· The presidential directive also reinstated Ayo Adewuyi as Executive Director of News, allowing him to continue in office until the end of his tenure in 2027. This decision effectively nullified all the recent appointments made just days earlier, including those of the new executive director of marketing and managing director of NTA Enterprises .
Table: Timeline of Key Events in the NTA Leadership Drama
Date Event Key Decisions Announced By
October 2023 Initial Appointment Salihu Dembos appointed as NTA DG for 3-year term Presidency
2024 News Director Appointment Ayo Adewuyi appointed as Executive Director of News Presidency
August 20, 2025 Leadership Overhaul Rotimi Pedro appointed new DG; several other new appointments Presidency via X
September 2, 2025 Reversal Decision Dembos and Adewuyi reinstated; all new appointments nullified Bayo Onanuga
Key Actors in the Drama
The Presidential Circle
· President Bola Tinubu: As the central decision-maker, Tinubu authorized both the initial overhaul and the subsequent reversal. His contradictory decisions within a short timeframe raise questions about the decision-making process within the presidency and whether the chief executive is being provided with contradictory advice by different factions within his administration .
· Bayo Onanuga (Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy): As the official announcer of the reversal decision, Onanuga explained that the President’s directive was to “ensure continuity and respect for the tenures of officials previously appointed.” This suggests that Onanuga may have advocated for the reversal, though his exact role in both the initial decision and the reversal remains unclear .
· Segun Imohiosen (Director of Information at the SGF’s Office): Interestingly, the initial announcement of new appointments was made by Imohiosen rather than Onanuga, suggesting competing centers of communication power within the administration. This division may reflect broader tensions between different factions or power centers within the presidency .
Salihu Dembos: The reinstated Director-General who found himself unexpectedly removed and then reinstated within a matter of days. His ability to return to his position suggests he maintains significant support within power circles despite the initial decision to remove him .
· Ayo Adewuyi: The Executive Director of News who similarly was removed and reinstated. His position handling news content makes his role particularly sensitive given the NTA’s function as the government’s primary television voice .
· Rotimi Richard Pedro: The would-be Director-General who was announced as Dembos’s replacement but never actually assumed the position. A veteran media executive, Pedro appears to have been caught in the middle of political maneuvering beyond his control .
Table: Key Actors in the NTA Leadership Changes
Actor Role Involvement in the Drama Current Status
President Bola Tinubu Decision-maker Authorized both initial changes and reversal Ultimately reinstated original team
Bayo Onanuga Presidential Spokesperson Announced the reversal decision Provided official rationale for reversal
Segun Imohiosen SGF Office Director Announced the initial overhaul His role diminished after reversal
Salihu Dembos NTA DG Removed then reinstated Back in original position
Ayo Adewuyi ED News Removed then reinstated Back in original position
Rotimi Pedro Intended DG Announced as replacement but never took office Returned to previous position
Behind the Scenes: What Informed the Drama?
Political Calculations and Power Plays
Based on available information and patterns of political behavior in Nigeria, several likely factors contributed to this dramatic series of events:
· Tenure Protection vs. Political Patronage: The presidency’s stated reason for the reversal was to ensure “stability, continuity, and respect for tenure in federal institutions” . This suggests that the initial decision to remove Dembos and others may have been an attempt to install new political allies in these positions, which backfired when confronted with legal or procedural constraints regarding fixed tenures.
· Competing Power Centers: The fact that different officials (Imohiosen vs. Onanuga) announced the different decisions indicates factional struggles within the administration. Various power centers within the presidency may be advancing different candidates for key positions, leading to contradictory decisions when different factions temporarily gain the upper hand .
· Ethnic and Regional Considerations: The initial new appointments appeared to follow regional balancing principles, with candidates from Lagos (South-West), Katsina (North-West), Plateau (North-Central), and Adamawa (North-East).
Potential External Influences
· Professional Backlash: The initial decision to replace the NTA leadership may have faced significant pushback from media professionals who valued the experience and continuity that Dembos and his team provided. This professional resistance may have forced the administration to reconsider its decision .
· Legal Concerns: Administration lawyers may have raised concerns about the legal validity of terminating fixed-term appointments without due process or sufficient cause. The reversal may have been motivated by a desire to avoid potentially embarrassing court challenges that could expose the administration to legal liabilities .
Broader Implications: Consequences of Leadership Instability
Impact on Institutional Governance
The NTA leadership drama has several concerning implications for institutional governance in Nigeria:
· Erosion of Due Process: The arbitrary removal and reinstatement of agency heads undermines due process and creates uncertainty about the rules governing appointments and removals in public institutions. This unpredictability can discourage qualified professionals from accepting government positions .
· Damage to Organizational Morale: Such public volatility in leadership inevitably disrupts morale within the NTA itself. Employees may become uncertain about their positions, strategies, and the direction of the organization, potentially affecting productivity and professionalism .
· Perception of Instability: The international community and investors watching Nigeria may interpret such abrupt changes as signs of broader governance instability within the administration, potentially affecting confidence in Nigerian institutions generally .
Implications for Media Freedom
As the national public broadcaster, NTA’s independence and professionalism are crucial for democratic discourse:
· Perceived Political Interference: The obvious political manipulation of NTA leadership reinforces perceptions that the government views public media primarily as a propaganda tool rather than an independent public service broadcaster .
· Editorial Independence Concerns: The fact that the Executive Director of News was among those removed and reinstated raises particular concerns about potential interference in news coverage and editorial decisions, especially regarding reporting on government activities and policies .
Conclusions and Recommendations
This investigation reveals that the recent turmoil in NTA leadership resulted from competing power centers within the administration attempting to influence key appointments at the national broadcaster. The initial decision to replace the leadership appears to have been poorly coordinated and potentially legally questionable, leading to a rapid reversal when these issues became apparent. The public nature of these changes has damaged the credibility of both the NTA and the administration’s management of public institutions, while creating uncertainty about the future direction of Nigeria’s largest television network.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of arbitrary political interference in public institutions. Not only does such interference disrupt organizational functioning and morale, but it can also backfire politically when done without proper consultation and consideration of legal and procedural constraints.
Recommendations
To prevent similar incidents in the future and protect the integrity of public institutions, this report offers the following recommendations:
· Clear Appointment Guidelines: The administration should establish and publicly communicate clear, transparent guidelines for appointments to leadership positions in public agencies, including criteria for removal before the end of fixed terms .
· Depoliticization of Public Media: Consider legislative reforms to insulate public media leadership from direct political control, perhaps through independent boards with staggered terms that transcend individual administrations.
· Internal Coordination Mechanism: The presidency should establish better internal coordination mechanisms to ensure that major decisions are properly vetted across all relevant offices before being announced publicly.
· Respect for Institutional Processes: Government should demonstrate greater respect for established institutional processes and tenures, which provide stability and professionalism in public administration.
The NTA leadership drama represents more than just personnel changes; it reflects broader challenges in governance and institutional management that need addressing if Nigeria’s public institutions are to function effectively and maintain public trust.
