Ngelale announced his intention to take an extended leave of absence to President Femi Gbajabiamila in a document that he sent to the Chief of Staff, according to a statement released by the Presidency on Saturday, September 7, 2024.He also announced that he had resigned from his positions as Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.

According to Ngelale, he decided to resign from his positions so that he could attend to medical issues that are currently affecting his immediate and nuclear family.

“On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate nuclear family.

“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonising decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President, Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.

“I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit. I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and me during this time,” the statement read.