Defence Ministry Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Aduda, Retires After 22 Years, Leaving Legacy of Major Defence Sector Reforms
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After twenty-two years of dedicated and meritorious service to Nigeria, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, has formally retired from the Federal Civil Service. His exit on Monday marks the conclusion of a mandatory eight-year tenure as Permanent Secretary, a role he was appointed to as the youngest Nigerian in history to hold the position.
Ambassador Aduda’s retirement comes at the age of 53, seven years ahead of the statutory retirement age of 60.
His distinguished career journey traversed several key ministries before culminating in his stewardship at the Ministry of Defence, where his tenure was defined by a focus on innovation and strengthening Nigeria’s national security and defence capabilities.
Following his departure, he has handed over the ministry’s affairs to Dr. S. M. Attah, the Director of the Army Affairs Department, who will now serve as the Acting Permanent Secretary.
His time at the helm was characterized by a push for critical institutional reforms with far-reaching implications for the Armed Forces. A major thrust of his work was revitalizing Nigeria’s defence industry by initiating the establishment of a Defence Industry Regulatory Department within the Ministry.
This proposal, currently under review by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, is aimed at enhancing indigenous production and promoting self-sufficiency.
Furthermore, he drove the centralization of procurement across the Armed Forces, holding advanced consultations with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to improve transparency, coordination, and cost-effectiveness.Beyond procurement and industry, Ambassador Aduda also resuscitated the long-abandoned project to establish a specialized Veterans’ Hospital, designed to provide comprehensive healthcare for retired military personnel.
Discussions are reportedly ongoing for funding support from Afreximbank, with a proposal for the facility to be managed by the world-renowned Mayo Clinic from the USA. He also advocated for an Executive Order to establish and operationalize the National Mine Action Centre as a parastatal within the Ministry of Defence to advance humanitarian demining efforts.In addition to institutional reforms, Ambassador Aduda’s compassionate, people-focused leadership earned him the admiration of staff unions. He prioritized staff welfare, most notably by restoring the ministry’s staff buses that had been grounded for decades, a move that significantly eased transportation challenges for employees.
In his farewell message, he expressed profound gratitude to God and his colleagues for their support, describing his civil service journey as both “an honour and a privilege.”
He noted that the opportunity to contribute to nation-building was a source of deep personal fulfillment and urged serving officers to remain steadfast in their pursuit of excellence, integrity, and teamwork.
Charging them to continue rendering selfless service with the fear of God and reminding them that “whatever we sow, we shall surely reap,” he pledged his continued support for national development even in retirement.
Ambassador Aduda’s tenure, as detailed in a statement from the ministry’s press directorate, will be remembered for its hallmark of innovation, discipline, and results-driven governance, leaving behind a legacy of reform and renewed capacity in Nigeria’s defence sector.
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