Before Sack, Tinubu was asked to withdraw Ajuri Ngelale as presidential envoy on climate action — Report

A few weeks before the termination of Ajuri Ngelale’s appointment as special adviser to the president on media and publicity, a non-governmental organisation had asked for the review of his appointment as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action (SPEC), according to a report by Foundation for Investigative Journalism [FIJ]

The Foundation cited a letter addressed to President Tinubu on August 10, 2024 by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), a resource centre advocating for policies on climate action, in which it asked the president to reverse the former spokesperson’s appointment.

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Sulaimon Arigbalu, HEDA’s executive secretary, who signed the letter, argued that Ngelale’s appointment as SPEC violated the provisions of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) under the Director-General of the Council as contained in the 2021 Climate Change Act.

He cited the demanding nature of the ex-presidential spokesperson’s office and also pointed out how he lacked the skills, competencies, network, and technical responsibilities to represent the nation as the Designated National Authority (DNA) on climate matters.

Arigbalu disclosed that Ngelale’s appointment as DNA, outright, overrode that of the office of the Director General of the NCCC, who was also appointed by the president.

“The first challenge is the assignment of Mr Ngelale as the DNA, otherwise called National Focal Point (NFP). This a highly technical responsibility, and hence, DNAs are technical entities who are well-grounded in the international climate change regime under the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) with the processes, policies, politics, science and international negotiation,” HEDA said.

“The skills, competencies, and network required to be a DNA are built over many years to be able to deal with the often complex and sophisticated emerging issues in the multilateral process. It is, therefore, an aberration of the international system and ethos to rest this very complex responsibility in a non-technical entity. Besides, the role of DNA is quite tasking and consuming and would be practically impossible to combine with the job of a presidential spokesperson, which Mr Ngelale is actually doing a good job at.

“The Climate Change Act 2021 recognizes the critical nature of the responsibilities of the DNA and thus bestowed it on the Director General of the NCCC, who is also an appointee of the President, to represent the country at such engagements.

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“The DG NCCC is presumed to be someone who has the technical competence and understanding of the requirement of a DNA. The Climate Change Act 2021 is the principal legislation, which provides the framework for climate change governance in Nigeria, including the pathway for achieving green growth and sustainable economic development.

“Section 1 of the Act provides the objectives of the Act. It further mandates the NCCC, with your Excellency, shall as its Chairman, and the Secretariat of the Council with the responsibility of ensuring the objectives of the Act are met.”

HEDA said that while it recognised the president’s power to make appointments as necessary, Ngelale’s position as SPEC and Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economics Solution undermined the regulations of the NCCC.

“We therefore urge that your Excellency comply with the provisions of the Climate Change Act which is an enactment of the National Assembly and withdraw/dissolve the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action (SPEC) and the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economics Solution forthwith as it is inconsistent with the principal legislation regulating Climate Action in Nigeria; the Climate Change Act, 2021.

“Whilst we recognize the powers and privileges of the office of the President to appoint a special envoy, as he considers needful, such powers and privileges shall not be exercised in violation of relevant laws; or to undermine a lawful institution of government.

“Thus, in the instance that you Excellency desire to keep Mr. Ngelale, as your special envoy, the unlawful ToRs attached to his appointment, which undermines the powers and duties of the NCCC, should be withdrawn.

“This will enable better coordination and a sharp focus administrative-wise on all issues regarding climate action and also reduce duplicative costs, especially in view of our country’s current economic reality.”

On Saturday, Ngelale had announced his resignation from all presidential appointments, citing a “vexatious medical situation” in his family.

However, FIJ had reported how he was fired by the presidency after losing a power tussle with Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser on information and strategy, and only allowed to publicly resign after his repeated pleas for a soft landing. [FIJ]