‘Tinubu’s Special Promotion For ADC Violates Conditions Of Service’

President Bola Tinubu’s special promotion of his Aide-de-camp from Colonel to Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army violates the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS 2024), which he signed on 16 December 2024.

An unverified letter from the office of the National Security Adviser, addressed to the Chief of Army Staff, dated 11 December 2025, requested a special promotion for the President’s ADC, Col. Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf.

The letter signed by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, reads “I wish to convey Mr President’s approval of Special Presidential Promotion of Colonel Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf to the rank of Brigadier General and retention as ADC C-in-C with effect from 12 December 2025, for your necessary action as enclosed. Please accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”

Colonel Nurudeen Yusuf was promoted in 2024 and decorated with the rank of Colonel in January 2025.

Barely 12 months on the rank, he is reportedly recommended for a special promotion to the rank of Brigadier General, a development that has unsettled both military officers and analysts.

While the Nigerian Army and the Ministry of Defence have kept mute since the document surfaced online over the weekend, Chapter 17 of the HTACOS 2024 stipulates guidelines for the promotion of military officers.

According to Chapter 17, Section 5, all promotions above the rank of Major/Lieutenant Commander/Squadron Leader shall be by selection, three good PERs/Course Report preceding the time of presentation, and success in a Promotion Board.

“For an officer to be promoted to Lt Col/Cdr/Wg Cdr, he must fulfil the following conditions: Awarded psc/psisc or equivalent, except EC/SD/BC officers deployable to Staff/Command appointments, have stayed a minimum of 5 years in the rank of Maj/Lt Cdr/Sqn Ldr.

“Other conditions not mentioned here but covered by individual Service guidelines.”

“Again, for an officer to be promoted to Col/Capt (NN)/Gp Capt, he must fulfil the following conditions: Awarded psc or equivalent, eminently deployable, have stayed a minimum of 5 years as a Lt Col/Cdr/Wg Cdr, fulfil other conditions that the individual Services may introduce from time to time.”

The document also stated that for an officer to be promoted to the rank of Brig Gen/Cdre/Air Cdre, he must fulfil the following conditions: Awarded fdc/mni or equivalent for RCC officers, be eminently deployable, have stayed a minimum of 5 years as a Col/Capt(NN)/Gp Capt, fulfil other conditions that the individual services may introduce from time to time.”

According to military sources, Tinubu’s ADC has not met these requirements, as he has neither attended the Army War College nor the National Defence College, nor its equivalent, to be eligible for such honours.

According to Military Sources, Nurudeen, a member of the 52 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, would, if granted such special promotions, overtake members of Courses 51, 49, and even 48, thereby disrupting discipline in the service.