President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sudden reversal of recent leadership changes at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has raised eyebrows nationwide. Fresh details have now revealed the real reason behind this dramatic U-turn.
Initially, Tinubu had announced the appointment of media entrepreneur Rotimi Pedro as the new Director-General of NTA, replacing Salihu Dembos. Alongside this, three other top executives within the state broadcaster and its subsidiaries were also reshuffled.
But in a surprise twist, the President rescinded the appointments just a week later, reinstating Dembos and the previously displaced management team.
The Hidden Trigger Behind the Reversal
According to presidency insiders, the move was prompted by strong objections from the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who was reportedly unaware of the appointments until they were reported in the media.
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At the time, Idris was on an official tour of Enugu and Ebonyi States with Dembos and other NTA executives. The announcement not only embarrassed the minister but also raised questions about the communication process behind the decision.
Sources revealed that a presidential aide with a broadcasting background had pushed for the initial changes, alleging that the NTA leadership was underperforming, losing its audience, and failing to project government activities effectively. However, Idris later disputed these claims.
Minister Idris’s Intervention Changed Everything
Upon his return from the Southeast tour, Idris reportedly met with President Tinubu to present his findings and requested permission to investigate the allegations against NTA’s management.
His report eventually concluded that the accusations were false and driven by vested interests seeking to gain control of the agency.
After reviewing the minister’s findings, President Tinubu ordered the immediate reversal of the appointments, restoring Salihu Dembos and the other executives to their positions.
What This Means for NTA and Governance
This episode underscores the critical role of due process in government appointments and highlights the influence of supervisory ministers in shaping presidential decisions. More importantly, it shows Tinubu’s readiness to reconsider actions when presented with credible evidence.