Fact-Check: No, President Tinubu Did Not Appoint Hadiza Bala Usman as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)
BY: Abdulraheem Muhammed
Claim:
On June 28, 2025, social media posts went viral, claiming that President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), making her the first woman to occupy the position.
Verdict:
False! The presidency has not made any such appointment, and official sources have debunked the claim as misinformation.
Full Text:
On the evening of June 28, 2025, multiple social media platforms lit up with claims that President Tinubu had appointed Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The widely circulated post asserted that she would be the first woman to hold the office.
The claim was amplified by several popular X (formerly Twitter) accounts, including Imran Muhammad (@imranmuhdz), Engineer Ibrahim Hassan (@ibhas1), Abayomi Oluwafemi Arabambi (@Arabambifemi), Ahmed Danbanni (@Ahmeddanbanni2), and Comrade Sulaima Barde (@barde6767), among others. The post quickly spread across Facebook, X, and WhatsApp, stirring conversations nationwide.
Verification:
FactCheckAfrica reviewed the claim and found no official announcement from the Presidency regarding a new SGF. The Aso Rock Villa Facebook page, the official social media handle of the Nigerian Presidency, debunked the rumour, labeling it false and misleading.
In addition, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, posted a clear rebuttal on his verified X account, refuting the claim and warning Nigerians against spreading unverified news.
No credible media outlet reported such an appointment, and as of the time of publication, George Akume remains the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Conclusion:
The claim that President Tinubu appointed Hadiza Bala Usman as the new SGF is false. The rumour was debunked by official sources, including the presidency’s social media and presidential spokespersons. Misinformation of this nature not only misleads the public but also poses a risk to democratic accountability. Nigerians are urged to verify information from official sources before sharing it on social media platforms.
