25th September, 2023
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has queried the qualification and competence of Ajuri Ngelale to speak for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following recent gaffes in the statement he released on behalf of his boss.
Ngelale, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was recently in the eyes of the storm over a statement he issued following the ringing of the closing bell by the President at NASDAQ Exchange last week.
He also committed another gaffe when he falsely claimed that the United Arab Emirates had lifted visa restrictions on Nigerians following a meeting between the country’s President and President Tinubu.
Reacting to the gaffes, NIPR said that Ngelale was ordinarily not ‘fit’ to hold the exalted position he now occupies in the Tinubu Presidency because he lacked the basic knowledge and requisite training on public relations.
Speaking in this vein, the newly elected council of NIPR under the leadership of Dr. Ike Neliaku said while Ngelale’s journalism pedigree, antecedents and credentials are not in doubt, he is legally not qualified for the current job he is doing at the Presidency.
The NIPR President vowed that the body will intensify advocacy and that only professionally trained and practising PR experts should be saddled with the job of spokespersons, especially for government and public officials.
Also, a newly elected governing council member of the Institute told PRNigeria that the law establishing the NIPR makes it a criminal offence for any individual to practice public relations without the necessary certification and licensing.
“We have checked our records and membership register and we could not find Ajuri Ngelale in the list. One can be a good writer, broadcaster or journalist but there are set parameters of knowledge a communicator needs to acquire including qualification before he/she can practice Public Relations in Nigeria.
“The law establishing NIPR provides laid-down rules about appointing spokespersons which also makes it a criminal offence for anybody to practice Public Relations by whatever name without certification by the Institute.
“In fact, the NIPR act stipulates punishment for illegal practice including imprisonment, fine, or both,” PRNigeria said quoting a governing council member of NIPR.
President Tinubu appointed Ngelale his senior special adviser on media and publicity some months ago.
Ngelale had also served as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Buhari and was the Assistant Principal Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for the 2023 elections.
He worked with DAAR Communication, owners of AIT and Ray Power, and Channels Television before then.