13 Days After Dismissal, Tinubu Reinstates Dembos as NTA DG
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially reinstated Mr Salihu Abdullahi Dembos as the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), just 13 days after he was replaced in a sweeping management overhaul at the state-owned broadcaster.
The decision, announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by presidential spokesperson Mr Bayo Onanuga, reverses the earlier appointment of Mr Rotimi Pedro as NTA Director-General, along with several other executive-level changes made in mid-August 2025.
According to the presidency, Dembos will now return to complete the three-year tenure he was originally appointed to in October 2023.
In a similar move, President Tinubu also ordered the recall of Mr Ayo Adewuyi, the Executive Director of News, to continue his own tenure, which is scheduled to run until 2027. Adewuyi was appointed in 2024.
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“The President’s directive supersedes the appointments recently made for the positions of Director-General, Executive Director of News, Executive Director of Marketing, and Managing Director of NTA Enterprises,” the statement read.
Background of the Controversy
The reinstatement follows a wave of criticism and concern from various quarters, including the Arewa Economic Forum (AEF), which had earlier condemned the sudden removal of Dembos. The forum described the move as irregular, lacking transparency, and potentially divisive, warning that such decisions could inflame regional tensions.
Dembos’ initial removal came as part of a comprehensive reshuffle announced on August 20, which also saw the appointment of Ms Stella Din Jacob as Executive Director of News, Ms Karimah Bello as Executive Director of Marketing, and Ms Sophia Essahmed as Managing Director of NTA Enterprises. All those appointments have now been effectively reversed.
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The abrupt U-turn has raised questions about coordination within the federal government, particularly between the presidency and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), which had announced the previous appointments through its Director of Information, Mr Segun Imohiosen.
Public and Media Reactions:
The move has sparked a mix of reactions among media observers, political analysts, and the public. While some view the reinstatement as a course correction that restores leadership stability, others see it as a reflection of deeper administrative inconsistency.
Investigative outlet Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) noted the irony in President Tinubu’s earlier claim that the NTA was being “strengthened” with the new appointments—only to reinstall the previous leadership just two weeks later.
As of press time, neither Mr Dembos nor Mr Pedro has publicly commented on the reinstatement.
