Federal Government Condemns Misuse of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Official Title by Media and Organizations

In a decisive step to safeguard the integrity of the highest office in the land, the Federal Government has publicly condemned the repeated misuse of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official title by media outlets and organizations.

The message landed loud and clear on Friday in Abuja. And it is already making waves across newsrooms and public platforms.

SGF George Akume Steps In With Formal Statement

The Federal Government called on media organizations and public institutions to ensure accuracy in the official appellation of President Bola Tinubu in all publications and communications.

In a statement personally signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, on Friday, the government urged the public and media organizations to verify official titles before publication, so that such avoidable and embarrassing errors would not filter into publications.

The statement carried real weight. It was not an informal rebuke. It came directly from the highest administrative office in Nigeria's executive arm of government, and it set the record straight in unmistakable language.

The clarification was issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the SGF, Yomi Odunuga, and was personally signed by Senator Akume.

The Correct Official Title: Set the Record Straight

So what exactly is the right title? The government spelled it out clearly and completely.

The correct and official title of the President is: "His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria."

That is the full, unabridged appellation. Every word matters. The honorific "His Excellency" comes first. The middle name "Ahmed" is included. The post-nominal letters "GCFR" (Grand Commander of the Federal Republic) follow the name. And the full designation of his office closes the title.

Missing any of these elements is not a minor slip. According to the government, it is an error that reflects poorly on the professionalism of any organization that publishes it.

What Triggered the Government's Response

This was not a reaction to a vague pattern of carelessness. It was prompted by a specific, identifiable incident. 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.

That single incident appeared to be the tipping point. But the language of the statement makes clear this was not the first time the government noticed the problem. The government condemned what it described as "frequent errors" in the official appellation of President Bola Tinubu by various bodies and organizations, urging strict compliance with the correct title going forward.

Why This Matters Beyond a Technicality

Presidential titles carry constitutional, diplomatic, and institutional significance. In diplomatic correspondence, state documents, and official publications, an incorrect title can undermine the legitimacy of the document itself. It signals to the international community, as well as to Nigerian citizens, that the institutions responsible for public communication are not exercising due diligence.

Akume noted that such mistakes are avoidable and urged journalists, editors, and organizations to verify official titles before publication, to prevent what he described as "avoidable and embarrassing errors."

The SGF used the word "embarrassing" deliberately. This is a matter of national dignity, not just editorial housekeeping.

Media Organizations Told to Verify Before They Publish

The government did not just criticize. It provided a clear, actionable path forward for anyone who wants to get it right.

Akume advised that verifications can be made through the Office's official channels, including Facebook: @OfficeoftheSGF, Instagram: OfficialOSGFNG, X (formerly Twitter): OfficialOSGF, and Email: [email protected].

The GCFR Distinction and What It Means

One element of President Tinubu's title that commonly gets omitted or misrepresented is "GCFR." These four letters represent the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, the highest national honour that Nigeria awards to a sitting president.

The award is not optional or decorative. It is a formal designation conferred upon assumption of the presidency, and it forms a mandatory part of the president's official appellation. Leaving it out removes a constitutionally and ceremonially significant component of his identity in office.

Combined with the honorific "His Excellency" and the full title "President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria," the complete appellation reflects the full scope of the office the President holds.

Accountability Falls on Editors, Not Just Writers

Here is something worth underscoring: Akume called on journalists, editors, and organizations to take responsibility for accurate titles before publication. The mention of editors is significant.

In most newsrooms, a published error goes through multiple layers of review before it reaches audiences. When an incorrect presidential title makes it into print or online, it is rarely one person's mistake. It is a systemic failure. The SGF's statement implicitly holds the entire editorial chain accountable.

How Organizations Outside Media Should Respond

This directive does not apply exclusively to newspapers and broadcast stations. The government urged various bodies and organizations to comply with the correct title going forward.

That language encompasses government ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as civil society organizations, private sector entities, academic institutions, and any body that communicates officially about the presidency. Any letter, report, press release, or event programme that references the president must use the correct appellation.

The Broader Signal: Precision in Public Discourse

There is a bigger story underneath this correction. Nigeria's government is sending a message about the standard it expects in public discourse. At a time when misinformation and casual inaccuracy spread rapidly across social media and digital platforms, the insistence on precise, verified official language sets a baseline.

The SGF urged the public and media organizations to verify official titles before publication, to avoid what he described as embarrassing and avoidable errors.

Getting a president's title right is a small act. But it reflects something larger: a commitment to accuracy, respect for institutional protocol, and professionalism in how Nigeria presents itself to the world.

The Federal Government has drawn the line. Now it is over to Nigeria's media and public organizations to hold it.