By Charles Pemu A significant controversy is brewing within the Nigerian Army following unconfirmed reports that President Bola Tinubu has approved the fast-track promotion of his Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Colonel Nurudeen Yusuf, to the rank of Brigadier-General. The alleged elevation, which bypasses conventional service requirements, has reportedly triggered widespread disquiet and accusations of favouritism among serving officers.
The Nigerian Army has remained silent on the matter. When contacted on Monday for clarification, the Army spokesperson, Colonel Onyechi Anele, asked reporters to await an official response, which had not been issued as of the time of filing this report.
The controversy was ignited by a media report claiming a letter dated December 12, 2025, conveyed the President’s approval to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Wahid Shaibu, with copies sent to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The purported move is facing strong resistance from military sources who insist the promotion is fundamentally inconsistent with existing regulations. Military protocol requires an officer to spend a mandated period of four years in the rank of Colonel before becoming eligible for Brigadier-General. Sources confirmed that Mr. Yusuf was promoted to Colonel only in 2024, making his reported current elevation infeasible.
Furthermore, critics questioned the alleged involvement of the NSA in initiating a promotion request, stressing that there are laid-down procedures that must be followed and that the NSA has no authority to write a letter requesting the promotion of any armed forces officer. A former Chief of Defence Training and Operations, General Ishola Williams (retd.), strongly criticised the reported move, noting that an ADC is typically meant to serve for only about two years before returning to regular duties to continue their career progression.
Historical Precedent Cited
In contrast, the notion of an accelerated promotion was defended by former Army spokesperson, Brigadier-General Bashir Adewinbi (retd.), who argued that such moves are not entirely new to the military. Adewinbi cited the example of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who was promoted from Lieutenant-Colonel to Brigadier-General, suggesting that officers may be rewarded for critical, albeit non-public, contributions to national security. He stressed that security operations are not always public, and a critical internal role could warrant compensation.
The mounting tension underscores the internal sensitivity surrounding high-level military appointments, with the service awaiting an official statement from the Army headquarters to address the concerns over the alleged breach of promotion hierarchy.