President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reported approval for the promotion of his Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Colonel Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, to the rank of Brigadier-General has triggered intense debate and quiet discontent within Nigeria’s military establishment over what officers describe as an unprecedented acceleration of promotions.

If formalised, the elevation would make Colonel Yusuf the first Brigadier-General in Nigeria’s history to serve as ADC to a sitting Head of State or President—an outcome senior officers warn could upend long-standing military traditions and weaken the integrity of the armed forces’ promotion system.

Investigations by PRNigeria reveal that the timing of the proposed elevation heightens the controversy. Colonel Yusuf was only decorated with the rank of Colonel in January 2025, meaning the current approval would constitute his second promotion in less than one year—an occurrence many serving and retired officers say is virtually unknown within the Nigerian Army’s career structure.

Letter from NSA Triggers Debate

The development was triggered by a letter dated December 12, 2025, from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, conveying President Tinubu’s approval for Colonel Yusuf’s elevation to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Wahid Shaibu, according to multiple security sources familiar with the correspondence.

Speaking to PRNigeria, a senior security source close to the Presidency defended the decision, arguing that the President was motivated by the need to maintain parity within the Presidential Villa’s security architecture.

The source explained that the Nigeria Police Force had earlier promoted the President’s Chief Personal Security Officer, Usman Shugaba, from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to Commissioner of Police (CP), while the Department of State Services (DSS) elevated the President’s Chief Security Officer, Adegboyega Fasasi, to the rank of Director.

“In terms of protocol and status, the ranks of CP in the police and Director in the DSS are considered equivalent to that of a Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army,” the source said.

“Without a corresponding promotion, Colonel Yusuf would remain subordinate in rank to his counterparts in the Villa, which could undermine esprit de corps within the presidential security team.”

Retired Generals Raise Red Flags

Despite this justification, PRNigeria gathered that several serving and retired senior officers from the branches (Army, Navy and Airforce) are deeply uneasy about the development, warning that bending promotion rules for what they describe as a “personal or political decision” could create far-reaching institutional problems.

Speaking anonymously, a retired general said rapid, out-of-turn promotions disrupt the military’s carefully structured seniority ladder and raise complex questions about hierarchy, postings, and command relationships.

“You risk a situation where a newly promoted officer suddenly becomes senior to officers who were previously his seniors. That creates confusion and resentment,” the officer warned.

Another retired senior officer was more blunt, stressing that the military operates under standards fundamentally different from those of the police or domestic intelligence services.

“The Nigerian military is neither the police nor an intelligence agency where promotions can be approved without meeting strict operational and institutional requirements,” he said.

“To be promoted to Brigadier-General, an officer must meet clear criteria—operational accomplishments, time-in-rank, seniority, and completion of mandatory courses at recognised institutions. Any arbitrary promotion sends a dangerous message that hard work and due process do not matter.”

The officer further warned that such perceptions could erode morale among officers who painstakingly follow established career progression pathways, potentially sowing seeds of unrest within the ranks.

‘Heroism Does Not Equal Automatic Promotion’

Another recently retired Rear Admiral in the Navy told PRNigeria that military promotions are governed by strict regulations and long-standing norms that leave little room for discretion.

“Even if a soldier saves the President from a terrorist attack, there is no automatic promotion in the military,” he said.

“Such acts are recognised through commendations, medals, or national honours—not by skipping ranks. Promotion must follow seniority, merit, and institutional qualification.”

Historical Context: How ADC Appointments Have Evolved

As part of its investigation, PRNigeria analysed the history of Aides-de-Camp to Nigeria’s Heads of State and Presidents from the 1950s to date, revealing consistent patterns that underscore why the current proposal is viewed as exceptional.

In the early post-independence era, leaders such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Major-General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi relied predominantly on young Lieutenants drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Officers such as Lt. Orho Obada and Lt. Sani Bello typified this period, reflecting the premium placed on agility, proximity, and close-contact security during Nigeria’s formative years.

Under more entrenched military regimes—particularly those of Generals Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, and Sani Abacha—the profile of ADCs shifted markedly toward more seasoned officers. Lieutenant-Colonels and Colonels, including Lt.-Col. Mustapha Jokolo, Lt.-Col. Sambo Dasuki, and Col. Usman Kakanda Bello, were selected for their deeper operational experience, command maturity, and institutional authority. Col. Bello was later killed during the failed April 22, 1990 coup attempt, underscoring the heightened risks associated with proximity to power during military rule.

Since the return to democratic governance in 1999, civilian presidents—Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari—have largely sustained this convention by appointing Colonels as ADCs. Officers such as Colonel Solomon Giwa-Amun, Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe, and Colonel Muktar Dodo emerged from this cohort, many of whom were subsequently promoted through established military career pathways. Security analysts say this continuity reflects the increasing professionalisation of presidential protection and the growing complexity of Nigeria’s security environment in the democratic era.

A Test of Military Tradition

The broader pattern, PRNigeria notes, shows a clear evolution of ADC appointments—from youthful junior officers in the 1960s to senior field-grade officers in contemporary administrations—mirroring Nigeria’s political transitions, expanding security threats, and increasingly sophisticated presidential security architecture.

However, senior officers insist that crossing the threshold into the general-officer rank for an ADC would represent a sharp break with tradition, with implications extending beyond the Presidential Villa.

As the military hierarchy weighs the President’s approval, the controversy has become a litmus test for how far institutional norms can bend under political and security pressures—without undermining the discipline, morale, and credibility of Nigeria’s armed forces. (By PRNigeria)

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