By Amofokhai Williams
In a stunning reversal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate recall of Mr. Salihu Abdullahi Dembos as Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Mr. Ayo Adewuyi as Executive Director of News, effectively nullifying recent management appointments.
The announcement, made on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has sparked intense speculation about the motives behind this move.
Dembos, appointed by Tinubu in October 2023, had briefly vacated his position amid a management shake-up in August 2025 that saw Rotimi Richard Pedro named as the new Director-General.
Adewuyi, appointed in 2024, was also sidelined in the same reshuffle.
The President’s latest directive reinstates both officials to complete their respective three-year tenures, with Dembos’ term ongoing and Adewuyi’s set to conclude in 2027.
“The new directive effectively reversed the previously announced appointments of a director-general, executive director of news, executive director of marketing, and managing director of NTA Enterprises,” Onanuga stated, underscoring the sweeping nature of the decision.
The abrupt U-turn has caught industry observers off guard, especially after the August appointments were hailed as a step toward revitalizing the state-owned broadcaster.
Insiders suggest the decision may stem from internal reviews or public feedback on the NTA’s recent performance, though no official explanation beyond the reinstatement directive has been provided.
The move has raised questions about the stability of leadership within Nigeria’s premier television network, which serves as a critical platform for national communication and unity.
