EXCLUSIVE: Leaked Document Exposes Tinubu’s Plan To Hand Over State House Clinic to Private Managers As Education Minister Oversees Process

A document exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters has uncovered plans by President Bola Tinubu to transfer the management of the State House Medical Centre to a private facility manager.

The letter announcing the start of the contracting process for the State House Clinic was, curiously, written on the Ministry of Education’s letterhead and signed by the Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Addressed to the Permanent Secretary to the State House in the Presidential Villa, Temitope Peter Fashedemi, the letter dated March 25, 2025, detailed the inauguration of a committee tasked with overseeing the handover of the facility to "private managers."

The letter noted that following the approval of President Bola Tinubu, processes to contract the State House Medical Centre to private facility managers had commenced.

It further stated that a Technical Working Group (TWG) had been set up to oversee the process. The letter asked for the nomination of a representative from the Ministry of Health "so as to coordinate deliberations with State House Administration."

The inauguration of the group was scheduled for April 29.

The letter, signed by Education Minister Alausa and referenced HME/FME/CORR.GEN.VOL 2/223, is titled, ‘Presidential Approval for the Engagement of a Private Facility Manager for the State House Medical Centre.’

The letter stated, “Further to the assignment given to me by Mr. President to assess and determine the optimal operational model for the State House Medical Centre, I am pleased to convey His Excellency's approval to commence the contracting process for engaging a private facility manager to oversee its management.

“In line with this directive, a Technical Working Group (TWG) has been constituted to implement this process. Given the strategic importance of this initiative, I kindly request that you nominate a representative from your office to participate in the TWG's deliberations and ensure seamless coordination with the State House administration.

“The Inauguration of the TWG has been slated as follows:

Date: Tuesday 29th April, 2025

Time: 2.00pm

Venue: Minister's Conference Room, Federal Secretariat. Abuja, Federal Ministry of Education.

“Kindly send me the name and contact number of your nominee. Further Information would be provided to your nominee at the inauguration.”

“I look forward to your support in this critical endeavor, which aligns with Mr. President's commitment to ensuring world-class healthcare services within the State House Medical Centre,” Alausa added.

In a related development, a petition against the handing over of the State House Medical Centre to a private facility manager has raised serious concerns.

The petition criticised the Federal Government’s move to privatise the operations of the State House Medical Centre (SHMC) and its Presidential Wing under the pretext of handing it over to a "private facility manager."

It was noted that this move could pose grave national security risks and set a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s governance structure.

In a detailed petition dated April 14, 2025, Gbenga Adewale, speaking on behalf of a group identified as Concerned Nigerians, accused government officials of attempting to transfer management of the SHMC to private facility managers under the guise of reforms.

Adewale described the move as a "security and policy catastrophe" that must be halted immediately.

The petition emphasised that the State House Medical Centre is not an ordinary hospital.

The petitioners highlighted that the clinic is “located at the foot of Aso Rock and within the highly secured Presidential Villa”.

“The centre shares a perimeter with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and overlooks the Office and residence of the President and Commander-in-Chief," the petitions said.

The petition warned that the "introduction of private operators into such a sensitive location could compromise the confidentiality of presidential health matters and expose national security secrets."

It also noted that the Nigerian government had invested billions of naira over the years in the development of the SHMC.

These investments reportedly "include 30 hectares of prime land, several buildings constructed by Julius Berger, two CT scanners, eight operating theatres, MRI machines, X-ray and ultrasound equipment, a ₦3.9 billion solar farm, and 55 service quarters for staff."

The petitioners argued that these assets, funded through federal appropriations, must remain under public control and not be handed over to private interests.

Another primary concern raised is related to the human resources at the centre.

Staff members, specially recruited by the Federal Civil Service Commission and vetted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over five years, could be displaced by non-security-cleared personnel under private management. The petition warned that this would undermine national confidentiality and civil service integrity.

Adewale further claimed that Dr. Alausa, reportedly a relative of President Bola Tinubu, is continuing an agenda he started during his previous tenure.

The petition described his involvement as inappropriate and warned that the move reflects a creeping trend of transferring public assets into private hands under questionable circumstances.

The document also expressed alarm over the possible replication of such privatisation in other sensitive institutions, including the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Hospital, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Hospital, and other security-related medical facilities. It was argued that if allowed, such actions would erode the sovereignty of the Nigerian state from within.

President Tinubu, the Head of the Federation's civil service, the National Assembly, security agencies, the judiciary, and civil society organisations were urged to intervene urgently.

The petitioners demanded an immediate halt to the privatisation process, an investigation into the matter, and the protection of civil servants' rights and careers at the SHMC.

"This is not just about a hospital. It is about protecting the very nerve centre of the Nigerian government," the petition concluded.

N1.127Billion Budgeted For State House Medical Centre In 2025

A review of the approved 2025 budget document by SaharaReporters revealed that N1.127 billion was allocated to the State House Clinic.

According to the breakdown, N494 million was set aside for capital expenditure, while N632 million was allocated for overhead costs.

It is still unclear whether these funds would be transferred to the private facility manager engaged should the proposed privatisation push through.