Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Fagbemi questioned the current structure of Nigeria’s security management, particularly the relationship between the NSA and ministers with constitutionally defined roles.
“An Adviser Should Not Lead a Minister”
According to Fagbemi, while it is understandable for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to trust individuals he believes are competent, such confidence must still operate within constitutional limits.
He argued that the NSA is fundamentally an advisory position and should not be placed in a position where he appears to direct or supervise statutory office holders, such as ministers or service chiefs.
“You cannot ask an adviser to lead a statutory minister. That arrangement is counter-productive,” Fagbemi stated.
He explained that ministers are appointed, confirmed, and empowered by law to oversee specific sectors, and any structure that subordinates them to advisers weakens accountability and clarity in governance.
Fagbemi acknowledged that the office of the NSA is recognized in Nigeria’s constitutional framework, but insisted that its role is clearly limited to coordination and behind-the-scenes support.
According to him, the constitution does not empower the NSA to enforce policy decisions or take on functions that belong to ministers or other statutory authorities.
“In matters of international relations, security cooperation, or diplomacy, it is the relevant minister who should take the lead, not an adviser,” he said.
He warned that blurring these lines could create confusion within government and undermine effective decision-making.
The analyst linked his concerns to potential challenges facing top security figures, including former Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa, who may encounter institutional conflicts if advisory roles continue to expand beyond their limits.
Fagbemi stressed that Nigeria’s security system works best when each office operates strictly within its defined mandate.
When advisers begin acting as executors rather than coordinators, it can slow down responses and weaken overall effectiveness.
“The NSA’s role is to advise, coordinate, and support. Once it moves into enforcement and command, problems are inevitable,” he said.
According to Fagbemi, the current trend suggests that the NSA’s office is gradually shifting away from its traditional advisory function into a more centralized and directive role.
He argued that such a shift, while possibly well-intentioned, goes against established governance principles and may worsen Nigeria’s existing security challenges.
“If the NSA stays within legal boundaries, many of the tensions and inefficiencies we see today will be reduced,” he added.
Fagbemi emphasized that his remarks were not a personal attack on the NSA or the President, but rather a call for institutional balance and respect for democratic structures.
He urged the Tinubu administration to strengthen governance by clearly defining roles and ensuring that advisers remain supportive rather than dominant.
In his view, a strong democracy depends on clear chains of responsibility, where ministers answer for their sectors and advisers remain sources of guidance rather than authority.
The comments have sparked wider debate on social media and among political observers, with some agreeing that the concentration of power within advisory offices could weaken ministerial responsibility, while others argue that Nigeria’s complex security situation requires stronger coordination.
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