Former presidential aide, Fegho John Umunubo, has revealed that he never collected salary, bonuses, or travel allowances during his time as Special Assistant on Digital and Creative Economy in the Office of the Vice President.
In a series of Instagram slides on Friday, Umunubo expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, for the opportunity to serve.
According to him, his decision to serve without pay was voluntary.
“Upon my appointment in 2023, I chose not to receive a salary, bonus, or travel budget from the Federal Government. Instead, I relied on the support of private-sector partners and organizations to fund the initiatives I executed,” he wrote.
Umunubo highlighted some of his key contributions, including:
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Creative Stakeholders Engagement at the State House (November 2023): Brought together over 500 creatives at the Banquet Hall, State House, for a dialogue with the Vice President.
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₦5 Billion Creative Fund (Providus Bank Partnership): Partnered with Providus Bank Plc to establish a ₦5 billion fund, giving producers and actors access to loans for movies targeted at streaming platforms and cinemas.
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Over ₦500 Million in Grants and Sponsorships: Facilitated support for film premieres, free cinema ticket giveaways, music and comedy shows, accelerator training programs, and grassroots business initiatives.
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Support for Brazilian Delegation’s Visit to Lagos: Mobilized private sector resources to host a Brazilian delegation during the visit of Brazil’s Vice President, giving foreign investors direct exposure to Nigeria’s creative industry.
Sharing the slides, Umunubo captioned his post:
“Fegho John Umunubo Thanks Mr. President, Vice President, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Partners for the Opportunity to Serve… Please slide to read the full statement.”
Umunubo’s statement comes after the presidency confirmed his dismissal on September 8.
The announcement, signed by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information at the State House, stated that Umunubo had been “disengaged with immediate effect” and warned the public that he no longer represents the administration.
The lawyer and media entrepreneur had earlier been suspended in June over allegations of abuse of office, including unauthorized agreements signed on behalf of the Federal Government and meddling in the affairs of agencies under the Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy. Minister Hannatu Musawa was reported to have petitioned the presidency over his conduct.
Before his suspension, Umunubo also clashed publicly with filmmaker Arese Ugwu, who accused him of failing to redeem a ₦10 million sponsorship commitment and leveraging his office to gain influence in the creative industry.
Reacting shortly after his sack, Umunubo wrote on Instagram:
“It has been my honor to serve this country and the Creative Industry. Now I am free to fly.”
