The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has corrected the official appellation of President Bola Tinubu following recurring errors by some organisations and media outlets, warning that proper verification is needed to avoid what it called embarrassing and avoidable mistakes.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the SGF, Mr Yomi Odunuga, and personally signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume.
According to Akume, the correct and official appellation is: “His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
The SGF said the clarification became necessary following an error observed in the naming and appellation of the President in a publication by a national daily on Wednesday, May 7, 2026. He noted that such lapses could be avoided through proper verification from appropriate official sources.
Akume urged journalists, editors, institutions and members of the public to verify official titles before publication to avoid “avoidable and embarrassing errors” in public communication. He added that official titles attached to high public offices carry constitutional, ceremonial, and diplomatic significance and should not be treated casually or inaccurately.
The SGF advised that verification could be made through the OSGF’s official communication channels, including Facebook at @OfficeoftheSGF, Instagram at OfficialOSGFNG, X formerly Twitter at OfficialOSGF, and Email at info@osgf.gov.ng.
The Federal Government said it considered it necessary to officially restate the correct title and appellation of the President after noticing repeated inaccuracies in public communications, newspaper publications, official programmes, and media reports.
Odunuga explained that the action became necessary after a national newspaper reportedly used the wrong title while referring to the President in a publication released on Wednesday, May 7, 2026.
The statement notes that the Federal Government considers accuracy in official communication important, especially when it concerns the office of the President and other senior government officials.
