Fela Durotoye, a Nigerian public speaker, reveals that he served in President Bola Tinubu’s administration for six months without being paid.
In October 2023, Durotoye was appointed as the senior special assistant on national values and social justice by Tinubu.
After Tinubu appointed Daniel Bwala as special adviser on public communications and media, there was criticism on social media about the number of media aides being appointed without considering the cost of governance.
A viral 13-man list on social media included Durotoye’s name as part of the president’s media team.
In an opinion piece released on Monday, Durotoye clarified that his tenure as the president’s aide ended in March 2024.
He stated that during his time as the president’s aide, he did not receive any salary, allowance, or financial support from the government.
Durotoye explained: “When I was invited to serve in this administration, I expressed my decision to not receive a salary from the government. I regarded it as my service to the nation.
“I served as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Values and Social Justice for a period of six months, from October 2023 to March 2024. Throughout this time, I covered all my expenses including rent, fuel, and upkeep without seeking reimbursement from the government.
“I did not accept any government funds and everything I contributed – time, effort, and resources – was self-funded by me and my family.”