BREAKING: Again, Tinubu disregard constitutional Provisions, Leaves for Vacation Without Handing Over to Shettima

Again, Tinubu disregard constitution, Leaves for Vacation Without Handing Over to Shettima

 

 

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again come under criticism for failing to comply with constitutional provisions requiring him to transfer authority to Vice-President Kashim Shettima while away on vacation.

 

On Thursday, September 4, Tinubu departed Abuja for a 10-day working holiday in Europe, visiting France and the United Kingdom, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

 

The President is expected to return after his annual leave.

 

However, the Presidency’s statement was silent on any formal communication to the National Assembly, as mandated by Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires the President to transmit a letter to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to enable the Vice-President to act in his stead.

 

With both chambers of the National Assembly currently on recess, concerns are mounting over the implications of Tinubu’s repeated failure to delegate authority during his foreign trips.

 

This is not the first time the President has ignored the constitutional requirement. In October 2024, Tinubu spent more than two weeks in France and the UK without handing over power to Shettima, a move that sparked similar controversy.

 

Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most travelled leaders. Data compiled over his first 17 months in office show that he and Vice-President Shettima collectively undertook 41 foreign trips to 26 countries, spending a combined 180 days outside the country. Of this, Tinubu accounted for 29 trips across 16 countries, spending 124 days abroad.

 

The latest vacation comes barely a week after his return from a 12-day diplomatic tour of Japan and Brazil, where he attended the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama and later met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Both leaders signed agreements spanning aviation, foreign affairs, science and technology, and agriculture.

 

Earlier in April, Tinubu had also spent 19 days in France and the UK on private visits.

 

Critics argue that Tinubu’s repeated refusal to empower his deputy while away not only undermines the Constitution but also leaves the country vulnerable to governance lapses during his absence.