The Presidency on Saturday said it has received the memo from the Spokesman for the President, Ajuri Ngelale, to proceeded on an indefinite leave of absence due to personal and health-related reasons.

This was disclosed in a statement shared on the X handle of the Presidency, @NGRPresident, and that of the Nigerian Television Authority, @NTANewsNow, on Saturday night.

Unlike previous statements by the Presidency, it was not signed by any official as it simply indicated “The Presidency” as the signatory.

It read in part,“The President has received the memo from Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President as well as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, informing of his decision to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence for personal and health reasons.”

Ajuri had earlier announced his decision to step down from his roles within the Presidency citing family related reasons.

In the statement, the President Bola Tinubu extended his heartfelt prayers to Ngelale and his family, wishing him a swift recovery and a complete return to good health.

The President also took the opportunity to acknowledge Ngelale’s tireless service to the nation, especially his remarkable contributions in advancing national discourse and spearheading critical initiatives such as climate action.

“The President recognizes Chief Ngelale’s dedication and thanks him for his efforts in various capacities,” the statement read

The Presidency further requested that the privacy of Ngelale and his family be respected during this challenging period.

Ngelale was appointed as Tinubu’s spokesman on July 31, 2023.

On 19 May 2024, was the first Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

[Punch]