Ajiboye denies sack by presidency, says he resigned as TRCN registrar nine months ago

Josiah Ajiboye, the immediate former registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), says he voluntarily resigned from his position nine months ago, contrary to reports that President Bola Tinubu sacked him.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ajiboye said he left the position on his own volition in August 2024 after serving meritoriously for eight years.

Ajiboye said the reports falsely claiming that he was removed from office were both mischievous and ignorant, especially for ignoring established procedures within the federal ministry of education.

“My attention has just been drawn to a sinister publication… talking about President Tinubu sacking Prof Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye as Registrar/CE of TRCN,” the statement reads.

“While one can easily dismiss the publication as a hatchet job from an ignorant writer… it is imperative to set the record straight for future purposes.”

Ajiboye added that he returned to his academic post at the University of Ibadan on September 1, 2024 — the same institution from which he was originally appointed.

The former TRCN registrar noted that upon his exit, he handed over the reins of the agency to the most senior director, who oversaw its operations until the recent appointment of Ronke Soyombo by President Tinubu.

“The letter of acknowledgement of the handing-over by the Federal Ministry of Education attested to the high-level performance and unparalleled achievements recorded by TRCN under my leadership,” he added.

Describing the claim of a presidential sack as “very strange and uncalled for”, Ajiboye warned the media outlet behind the publication to retract the false report or face possible legal action.

Ajiboye served as registrar of TRCN for two terms, during which he is credited with strengthening the professionalisation of teaching in Nigeria and positioning the council as a key player in educational reform across Africa.