President Bola Tinubu has suspended the proposed promotion of his aide-de-camp, Nurudeen Yusuf, following strong objections raised by two former Chiefs of Army Staff.
The decision was taken on Monday night after concerns emerged within the military hierarchy over plans to elevate Yusuf to the rank of brigadier-general through special presidential approval.
Yusuf was only promoted to colonel in January 2025, making the intended advancement highly unusual under existing Nigerian Army regulations.
According to military guidelines, an officer is required to spend at least four years as a colonel and attend the National Defence College before being considered for promotion to brigadier-general.
In Yusuf’s case, approval to bypass these requirements was reportedly conveyed from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Chief of Army Staff.
The letter, dated December 12, 2025, and signed by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, stated that Yusuf would retain his position as the President’s aide-de-camp even after the proposed promotion.
The development reportedly unsettled senior military officers, as there is no record of a serving brigadier-general acting as ADC to a sitting Nigerian president.
Ahead of the planned decoration ceremony, the Minister of Defence, who is a retired general, alongside the Chief of Army Staff, were said to have cut short an official trip to Lagos State and returned to Abuja.
Before the promotion could be carried out, two highly respected former army chiefs reportedly met with President Tinubu and cautioned him against the move, warning that it could undermine military discipline and established promotion procedures.
A source within the presidency later confirmed that the promotion would not proceed in the foreseeable future.
Military analysts also expressed fears that such an exception could destabilise the armed forces and weaken long-standing promotion standards.
Yusuf has previously been linked to allegations of wielding significant influence over military postings and promotions due to his close relationship with the President.
Reports claim he once obtained presidential approval for the promotion of officers nearing retirement after failing mandatory assessments.
Although that approval was later reversed, the affected officers were reportedly allowed to remain in service.
President Tinubu promoted Yusuf to the rank of colonel in January 2025 during a ceremony at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Yusuf was appointed aide-de-camp in April 2023 while he was still a lieutenant colonel, shortly before Tinubu’s inauguration.
In July 2024, Yusuf was installed as the monarch of Ilemona land in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State and is expected to formally assume the traditional role after retiring from the military.
