President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is under fresh criticism for allegedly flouting constitutional provisions requiring him to delegate 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, covering France and the United Kingdom, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
However, the statement made no mention of any formal communication to the National Assembly, as required by Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The law mandates the President to notify the Senate President and the House Speaker to enable the Vice-President to act in his stead.
Recurring Pattern
This is not the first time Tinubu has been accused of disregarding this provision:
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In October 2024, he spent more than two weeks in France and the UK without transferring power to Shettima.
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Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has embarked on 29 foreign trips across 16 countries, spending 124 days abroad. Together with Shettima, both men have made 41 foreign trips to 26 countries, totaling 180 days outside Nigeria.
Critics’ Concerns
Opposition figures and civil society groups argue that Tinubu’s repeated refusal to empower his deputy:
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Undermines constitutional democracy.
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Leaves Nigeria vulnerable to governance gaps in his absence.
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Suggests a growing disregard for institutional checks and balances.
Context
The latest trip comes just a week after Tinubu’s 12-day diplomatic tour of Japan and Brazil, where he attended TICAD9 in Yokohama and signed bilateral agreements with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Earlier in April, he also spent 19 days in France and the UK on private visits.
Tinubu is expected to return after his annual leave, though his silence on formally handing over to Shettima continues to generate heated debate.
