Precious Nwonu, Enugu
President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation in Europe by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria this weekend, the Presidency has announced.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for a three-week working vacation, initially travelling to London before moving to Paris, France, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the extension in a statement on Monday.
According to him, Tinubu has remained in contact with officials at home and continued to direct government affairs while abroad.
The Presidency said the President had, among other directives, ordered an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died after being detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.
“President Tinubu will return to Nigeria at the weekend, following the extension of his working vacation by a few days,” the statement said.
During Tinubu’s absence, Vice President Kashim Shettima has represented him at several official engagements.
Shettima, however, departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver the country’s national statement.
The Presidency said Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, would continue representing the President at official functions while Shettima is in the United States.
### Atiku raises constitutional questions
The extension of Tinubu’s stay abroad has drawn criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who questioned the constitutional arrangements for the exercise of presidential powers.
Atiku, in a statement posted on his verified X account on Monday, asked who was exercising presidential authority with both Tinubu and Shettima currently outside the country.
He referred to Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the President to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office.
Atiku said Nigerians had not been shown any such declaration transferring presidential functions to Shettima and called on the Presidency to make the document public if it exists.
The former vice president also argued that Section 145(2) provides for the National Assembly to mandate the Vice President to perform the functions of President as Acting President if the required declaration is not transmitted within 21 days.
The constitutional provision and its application to presidential vacations have previously attracted differing interpretations from constitutional lawyers. Premium Times reported earlier this month that Section 145(1) expressly requires a written declaration when the President proceeds on vacation, while Section 145(2) provides a mechanism involving the National Assembly where such a declaration is not transmitted within 21 days.
Atiku described the matter as one of constitutional procedure rather than political convenience and questioned the continued exercise of presidential functions while Tinubu remains abroad.
### Presidency rejects criticism
The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu remains in charge of government despite his physical absence from Nigeria.
Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala said the President’s constitutional powers were not restricted by his geographical location and that Tinubu could continue to direct government affairs from abroad.
The Presidency also dismissed Atiku’s concerns over Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly, describing the criticism as baseless.
Meanwhile, Shettima is representing Nigeria at the UN General Assembly and is scheduled to present the country’s national statement.
Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend following the extension of his working vacation.