President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reversed the recent changes made at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), restoring Salihu Abdullahi Dembos as director-general and Ayo Adewuyi as executive director of news.
The development was confirmed in a statement on Tuesday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who explained that the president’s directive allows the two executives to complete their respective tenures, which had been briefly disrupted by earlier appointments.
On August 20, Tinubu had announced a shake-up in the NTA leadership. The changes included the appointment of Rotimi Pedro as director-general and Stella Din as executive director of news, alongside Karimah Bello as executive director of marketing and Sophia Mohammed as managing director of NTA Enterprises Limited.
With the new reversal, Dembos, who was appointed by Tinubu in October 2023, will now continue in his role as DG until the end of his three-year tenure. Similarly, Adewuyi, who was appointed in 2024, will return as executive director of news to serve out his tenure until 2027.
Onanuga’s statement read in part: “Dembos was appointed DG of the TV network by President Tinubu in October 2023. He will now return to complete his three-year tenure. The President similarly directed the recall of Mr. Ayo Adewuyi, the Executive Director of News, to complete his three-year tenure, which ends in 2027.”
The announcement means the earlier appointments of a new DG, executive director of news, executive director of marketing, and MD of NTA Enterprises have been effectively set aside.
This is not the first time the Tinubu administration has reversed itself on appointments. In August, Tinubu rescinded the reappointment of Muheeba Dankaka as executive chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) just hours after her second five-year term had been announced.
See the full statement below:
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU RECALLS DG OF NTA, ED NEWS; SETS ASIDE FRESH APPOINTMENTS
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the recall of Mr Salihu Abdullahi Dembos, the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), who briefly vacated the post following some management changes in the agency.
Dembos was appointed DG of the TV network by President Tinubu in October 2023. He will now return to complete his three-year tenure.
The President similarly directed the recall of Mr Ayo Adewuyi, the Executive Director of News, to complete his three-year tenure, which ends in 2027.
Adewuyi was appointed by President Tinubu in 2024.
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.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
September 2, 2025
What You Should Know
President Bola Tinubu has reinstated Salihu Abdullahi Dembos and Ayo Adewuyi to their positions at NTA after briefly replacing them with new appointees.
The move underscores a recurring trend in the administration, which has reversed several appointments within hours or days of announcing them.
Dembos will now complete his three-year tenure as DG, while Adewuyi will continue his term as executive director of news until 2027.
