Chief of Staff to the President (Nigeria)

The Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria is a high-ranking official who manages the Office of the President.[1] The position was created by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, modelled after the White House Chief of Staff; and its duties are assigned by the President but primarily focused on managing the flow of information and people; advising the president on various issues – through these roles the position wields considerable influence.[2][3]

Chief of Staff to the President
Incumbent
Femi Gbajabiamila
since 14 June 2023
The Presidency
Member ofCabinet of Nigeria
Reports toPresident of Nigeria
AppointerPresident of Nigeria
Formation1999 (1999)
First holderAbdullahi Mohammed
WebsiteOfficial website

List
No. Name Term of office[4] President(s) served under
Start End
1 Abdullahi Mohammed 29 May 1999 2 June 2008 Olusegun Obasanjo

Umaru Musa Yar'Adua

2 Gbolade Osinowo 2 June 2008 18 September 2008
Position abolished 18 September 2008 – 17 May 2010[5]
3 Mike Oghiadomhe 17 May 2010 10 February 2014 Goodluck Jonathan
4 Jones Arogbofa[6] 18 February 2014 29 May 2015
5 Abba Kyari 27 August 2015 17 April 2020 Muhammadu Buhari
6 Ibrahim Gambari 13 May 2020 29 May 2023
7 Femi Gbajabiamila[7] 14 June 2023 Present Bola Tinubu

History

In May 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Abdullahi Mohammed, previously the National Security Adviser as the first Chief of Staff to the President, he continued in this role until after the first year of the Umaru Yar'Adua presidency, with his Deputy Gbolade Osinowo succeeding him.[5] President Yar'Adua abolished the office, and instead relied on a group of close advisers.[8]

Following President Yar'Adua's death, his successor Goodluck Jonathan assumed office as acting president. In a bid to consolidate his nascent presidency, Jonathan appointed his ally Mike Oghiadomhe as Chief of Staff and General Aliyu Gusau as his National Security Adviser.[9] In February 2014, Oghiadomhe resigned from the position and was replaced by General Jones Arogbofa.[10]

In 2015, Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential election. In August 2015, he appointed Abba Kyari as Chief of Staff.[11] Following President Buhari's first illness and medical vacation, Kyari grew increasingly powerful and increasingly clashed with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.[12] In 2019, Buhari ordered his cabinet to pass all government correspondences and requests through Abba Kyari, making him the principal channel of communication between the president and the government.[13]

On 17 April 2020, Abba Kyari died of COVID-19.[14] On 13 May 2020, Ibrahim Gambari was appointed as chief of staff.[15]

On 1 March 2023, Bola Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election.[16] On 2 June 2023, He appointed Femi Gbajabiamila, the 14th speaker of the House of Representatives as Chief of Staff.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Office of the President". The Statehouse, Abuja. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  2. Teniola, Eric. "The power of the office of chief of staff". The Guardian.
  3. "Presidency explains Chief of Staff, SGF roles". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 2019-08-25. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  4. "Gatekeepers: Men who managed Nigeria's presidents from 1999 till date". The ICIR. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  5. Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja (2008-08-18). "Yar'Adua removes Osinowo, scraps Chief of Staff office". OnlineNigeria.com. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  6. "Retired General Jones Arogbofa Is President's New Chief of Staff". The ICIR. 2014-02-18. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  7. "Tinubu names Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff, Akume as SGF". Premium Times. 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  8. Burgis, Tom (6 May 2010). "Reformist restrained by 'cabal' capitalising on his frailty". Financial Times.
  9. "Gusau, protector of power who may yet wear the crown". 2012-03-12. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  10. "Why Arogbofa Became Jonathan's Chief Of Staff, By Eric Teniola - Premium Times Nigeria". 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  11. "Buhari appoints Lawal as SGF, Kyari as CoS". The Guardian.
  12. Silas Okereke (20 July 2019). "Abba Kyari's rendezvous with history". guardian.ng. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  13. Adedigba, Azeezat (2019-08-20). "Pass all requests for meetings with me through Abba Kyari, Buhari tells ministers - Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  14. "Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President, is Dead". THISDAYLIVE. 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  15. Okwumbu, Ruth (2020-05-13). "Meet Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, President Buhari's new Chief of Staff". Nairametrics. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  16. "BREAKING: INEC declares Tinubu winner of presidential election". March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  17. "Tinubu names Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff, Akume as SGF". Premium Times. 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
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