RismadarVoice Reporters
September 23, 2026
President Bola Tinubu’s extended working vacation in Europe and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s presence at the United Nations General Assembly in New York have renewed debate over the exercise of presidential authority when Nigeria’s two highest-ranking officials are simultaneously outside the country.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for a three-week working vacation, initially travelling to London before proceeding to Paris, France.
The Presidency subsequently announced that he had extended the vacation by a few days and was expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.
Shettima, meanwhile, left Abuja on September 20 for New York, where he is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the President.
Their simultaneous absence has raised questions over whether Tinubu should have formally transferred presidential functions to Shettima and what constitutional arrangement applies while both officials are abroad.
At the centre of the debate is Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides a mechanism for the temporary transfer of presidential functions.
Under the provision, when the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of the office, he is required to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Upon that transmission, the Vice President performs the functions of the President as Acting President until the President sends another declaration indicating his return.
The Constitution also provides that where the President fails to transmit such a declaration within 21 days, the National Assembly may, by a simple majority in each chamber, mandate the Vice President to perform presidential functions until the President communicates his readiness to resume.
The current controversy has intensified because Tinubu’s initially announced three-week vacation has elapsed, while no public confirmation has emerged that presidential powers were formally transferred to Shettima under Section 145.
The Presidency, however, maintains that there is no leadership vacuum.
It says Tinubu remains in contact with officials in Nigeria and continues to direct government affairs while abroad. The Presidency has cited decisions taken during his vacation as evidence that the President remains actively in charge.
Shettima is also outside the country on an official presidential assignment, representing Nigeria at UNGA and participating in high-level and bilateral engagements.
The Constitution does not expressly state that the physical absence of both the President and Vice President from Nigeria automatically transfers presidential authority to another official.
It also distinguishes temporary absence from an actual vacancy in the offices of President and Vice President.
The Senate President therefore does not automatically become Acting President merely because the President and Vice President are simultaneously outside Nigeria.
Opposition politicians have nevertheless questioned whether Tinubu’s continued exercise of presidential functions while on an extended vacation complies with the procedure contemplated under Section 145.
The Presidency has rejected those arguments, maintaining that Tinubu can continue performing his constitutional responsibilities while outside the country.
The dispute therefore centres not simply on the physical location of Tinubu and Shettima, but on whether the constitutional procedure for temporarily transferring presidential functions should have been activated during the President’s vacation.
For now, Tinubu remains President and the Presidency maintains that he continues to exercise his functions from abroad, while Shettima carries out his assigned duties at the United Nations.
