President Bola Tinubu’s bid to secure special promotion for his aide-de-camp, Colonel Nurudeen Yusuf, to the rank of brigadier-general has sparked debate on social media.
The promotion, described as a “special presidential promotion,” was communicated through a letter dated December 12, 2025, from the office of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to the Chief of Army Staff.
The correspondence indicated that Yusuf would retain his position as the president’s ADC in the new rank.
“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,” the letter reads.
The promotion has reportedly caused discontent among Nigerian Army personnel.
In January 2025, barely 12 months ago, Tinubu had decorated Yusuf with the rank of colonel following a December 2024 promotion. The ceremony took place at the presidential villa in Abuja. Yusuf became the president’s ADC in April 2023 as a lieutenant colonel.
The leaked promotion letter has generated discussion on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
One user, @Orukusuku, defended the president’s decision, saying “As the C-in-C of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the President is acting within his powers if he has chosen to grant special promotion to his ADC.”
The X user noted, “: “The promotion he got last year was his regular promotion.
“If the President wishes to grant Col Yusuf special promotion this year, he may authorise the NSA to write to the COAS that such a request has been approved (the letter we saw isn’t the first phase as it shows that an application has been done prior to the date the letter was released).
“It is not normal to promote a military officer before his next promotion year hence the ‘special’ that was attached to the promotion.”
However, @Murtalaibin questioned the president’s action: “The President’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC) has not demonstrated any exceptional service that would justify a special promotion. While President Tinubu may possess the authority to promote his ADC and retain a Brig. Gen. in that role, exercising such power would set a dangerous precedent.”
@Novieverest suggested that for the letter to leak, it indicates dissatisfaction within the military.
“For someone to leak that letter from the NSA to the Chief of Army Staff, it shows that the letter caused some problems within the Army and it was wrong for Tinubu to do that. He is your ADC, yes. But don’t break rules for him.”
Another user, @Boripe_ suggested that Yusuf should relinquish his ADC role if promoted to brigadier-general.
“Tinubu is setting a dangerous precedent by promoting his ADC to brigadier and retaining him as ADC. If this travesty should stand, one day, we will have a President that will say he wants COAS as ADC,” said the user.
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