The Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Danjuma Shekwolo, has defended his decision to appoint a Special Assistant on Dance, insisting that the role has been widely misunderstood.
The appointment, which attracted widespread reactions after the letter surfaced online, sparked debates over the creation of what many considered an unusual government position. However, the council chairman said the portfolio is broader than it has been portrayed.
Speaking on Friday, Shekwolo explained that the appointment was designed to strengthen the entertainment sector in Kuje Area Council and not to create an office dedicated solely to dance.
According to him, the public narrative surrounding the appointment failed to capture the actual responsibilities attached to the position.
“Yes, I made an appointment. But it is the wrong perception that they gave. It is an appointment for a Special Assistant on entertainment, not dance,” he said.
The appointment letter, dated July 13 and referenced KAC/CHM/30/VOL.1, officially named Ibrahim Danladi as the Special Assistant, with immediate effect.
Signed by the council chairman, the letter stated that the appointment was based on Danladi’s “selflessness, hard work, dedication, and contribution to the development of Kuje Area Council.”
It also urged the appointee to justify the confidence reposed in him by carrying out the responsibilities of the office with diligence and commitment.
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“With pleasure, I wish to inform you that you have been appointed as Special Assistant (Dance) with immediate effect,” the appointment letter read.
The announcement quickly generated conversations across social media, with many Nigerians questioning the need for such a position within a local government administration amid pressing governance and economic challenges.
Responding to the criticism, Shekwolo maintained that the objective was to promote entertainment and youth engagement within the council, stressing that the office should be viewed as part of efforts to support the creative industry rather than being narrowly interpreted as a dance-related appointment.
The council chairman added that recognising talented individuals in the entertainment space aligns with his administration’s broader vision of encouraging creativity and creating opportunities for young people.
Shekwolo, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged victorious in the February Area Council election after polling 17,269 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Zakwoyi Danlami, who secured 15,824 votes.
The clarification comes as public debate continues over the appointment, with many awaiting further details on the specific responsibilities attached to the entertainment portfolio.