News

Ministry of Defence: Tenure Expired, Power Retained: Aduda’s Stay Sets Off Civil Service Time Bomb

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 16th, 2025.

Ministry of Defence: Tenure Expired, Power Retained: Aduda’s Stay Sets Off Civil Service Time Bomb

Despite reaching the official retirement age and completing the maximum eight-year tenure in the federal civil service as of August 15, 2025, Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, has yet to relinquish his position. His continued presence in office is raising alarms over what insiders describe as a flagrant violation of civil service regulations.

Back in June 2025, Leaders.ng had reported on emerging plans to unlawfully extend Aduda’s time in office—a move now appearing to unfold in real time.

Sources within the Ministry confirm that Aduda, who was expected to hand over today, remains actively in charge, issuing instructions and overseeing operations. Senior officials say the development undermines both the legality and integrity of the civil service system.

According to multiple insider accounts, Aduda is being supported by a coalition of high-level allies determined to retain him in office. These include the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, the Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Wike’s involvement is believed to stem from his political ties to Senator Philip Aduda, the Permanent Secretary’s elder brother. Sources allege that Wike is lobbying from within the Presidency, while Badaru and Walson-Jack manage the bureaucratic aspects of the situation.

“It’s a strategic power move,” a senior official in the ministry, speaking anonymously, commented. “Wike is buying time through political connections, while the others are shaping the internal narrative to justify Aduda’s continued stay.”

The same source also suggested that protecting Aduda serves as a shield for other officials who could be implicated if administrative or financial misconduct is uncovered.

“There’s more beneath the surface,” the director said. “Aduda didn’t act alone. There are others—possibly in the Ministry and the OHCSF—who could face scrutiny if he steps down.”

Growing Discontent Among Senior Officials

Aduda’s refusal to exit office has triggered unrest among senior civil servants within the Ministry of Defence. Some directors have reportedly begun discussions about withholding cooperation, setting the stage for what one insider labeled a “silent mutiny.”

“This isn’t about tribalism or ambition. It’s about adherence to the law and safeguarding the institution,” one senior staff member said. “If we allow this, we send the message that rules don’t matter.”

Another director echoed the sentiment: “We’re considering boycotting meetings he chairs. If this continues, we’ll escalate our protest.”

Potential Risks to National Security

Experts warn that the leadership uncertainty within the Defence Ministry could have wider implications for national security. Amid ongoing threats from insurgents, armed bandits, and secessionist groups, insiders caution that any dysfunction in the Ministry’s leadership could disrupt coordination and compromise Nigeria’s security efforts.

“This isn’t just a bureaucratic issue—it’s a potential threat to national stability,” said a senior security analyst familiar with the situation.

Calls for Presidential Intervention

Civil service insiders are urging President Bola Tinubu to step in and restore order, warning that failure to act could trigger wider unrest across the bureaucracy.

“This is a pivotal test for the president’s commitment to civil service reform,” one official said. “Allowing this to continue sends the wrong message about accountability and the rule of law.”

Another senior source added: “If political connections can override public service rules, then no civil servant is safe from arbitrary decisions. This sets a dangerous precedent.”

The controversy is said to be spreading anxiety among officials in other ministries, who worry that similar breaches may be tolerated if left unchecked.

Official Silence Raises More Questions

Repeated efforts to reach Aduda, the Ministry of Defence, and the Office of the Head of Civil Service for comment were unsuccessful as of press time. Meanwhile, Aduda continues to carry out his duties as if nothing has changed.

“A Quiet Death of Institutions”

A former director, who retired from the ministry last year, reflected grimly on the situation: “Institutions rarely collapse overnight—they erode slowly through compromises like this. If one rule is bent today, many more will be broken tomorrow. And in a ministry like Defence, that’s incredibly dangerous.”

For now, attention turns to the Presidency, as Nigerians await a decisive move to resolve what one senior civil servant described as “an institutional crisis in the making.”