Fela Durotoye, the Nigerian motivational speaker and former presidential candidate, recently revealed that he served as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Bola Tinubu for six months without receiving any form of salary or allowance. Durotoye explained that when he accepted the position in October 2023, he made it clear that he would not take any financial compensation for his work, seeing it as a patriotic service to the country.
His six-month tenure lasted until March 2024, and throughout this period, he personally covered all his living expenses, including accommodation, transportation, and utilities, without seeking reimbursement from the government.
Durotoye’s disclosure came amid growing discussions about the cost of governance, particularly following the president’s appointment of several media aides. Some of these appointments, including Durotoye’s, were publicly criticized for potentially inflating government spending. Durotoye addressed the issue by clarifying that he was not part of the media team, despite being listed among them on social media .
This selfless decision by Durotoye has sparked conversations about the role of public service and the challenges faced by government appointees in Nigeria, especially in the context of resource constraints. His voluntary service highlights a different approach to political appointments, focusing on service rather than financial gain.