Stop addressing me as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces-President Jonathan

The presidency has directed all government functionaries to stop addressing President Goodluck Jonathan as the “Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” at non-military functions henceforth.

The new order was contained in October 14 circular, No SGF/OP/1/S.3/X/664 issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.

The memo, which was obtained on Friday, was addressed to the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers, Heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals, the leadership of the National Assembly, and government-owned companies.


“It is further directed that except in purely armed forces programmes, Mr. President should not be addressed as the “Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement cautioned.

“The approved designation of the President for the purposes of all official correspondence, public announcements or Communication should be “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I am to stress that for all official purposes, Mr. President should be addressed as follows: ‘His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Mr. Anyim added, urging strict compliance to the presidential directive by all Nigerians.

However, the new directive by the president does not dispute the fact that he is the Commander of the Nigerian armed Forces as stipulated by the constitution.

Section 130 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states: “There shall be for the Federation a President. The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.”

The Nation