President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency has announced.
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Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London before travelling to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
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The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said on Monday that Tinubu had remained in contact with developments in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs while abroad.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu also ordered the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.
The Presidency said the President would return to Nigeria at the weekend after extending his working vacation by a few days.
During Tinubu’s absence, Vice President Kashim Shettima has represented him at several official engagements. Shettima travelled to New York on September 20 to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has also continued to represent the President at some official functions.
Onanuga said Shettima would handle Tinubu’s representation at the UN General Assembly, while other officials would continue to carry out assigned duties.
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Meanwhile, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the constitutional arrangements for the exercise of presidential powers while both Tinubu and Shettima are outside Nigeria.
Atiku referred to Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for a president proceeding on vacation to transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, allowing the vice-president to perform presidential functions as Acting President.
He claimed that the Presidency had not made public any such declaration from Tinubu before his departure on August 30.
Atiku argued that the issue had become more important following the expiration of the three-week period initially announced for Tinubu’s vacation and Shettima’s subsequent trip to the United States.
He called on the Presidency to publish any constitutional communication transferring presidential authority to the Vice-President. He also said the National Assembly should clarify its position if no such declaration had been transmitted.
The former Vice-President linked the issue to other national concerns, including the deaths of the 37 suspected miners in Niger State, rising petrol prices and broader economic challenges.
The Presidency, however, described Atiku’s concerns and related claims by a US-based lobbying firm about Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly as unfounded.
Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, according to the Presidency.
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