President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's decision to extend his 21-day "working vacation" in France has sparked constitutional debate over a potential vacuum in Nigeria's presidency. Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for a 21-day vacation, which included a brief stop in London before traveling to France. On September 21, his spokesman announced that Tinubu had extended his vacation and would not return to Nigeria until the weekend. This extension has raised questions about the current governance structure in Nigeria.
Human Rights Lawyer Inehihe Effiong has argued that Tinubu's extended vacation has created a vacuum in the office of the President. According to Effiong, the President's vacation, which has exceeded the 21-day window permissible under section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution, has left the country without a president or a person capable of exercising the functions of the office of president. Effiong added that there are specific powers in the Nigerian constitution that can only be exercised by the President and not the Vice President or cabinet ministers.
Vice President Kashim Shettima is currently in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, leaving questions about who is managing the nation's affairs. The Presidency has insisted that Tinubu is managing the nation's affairs from France and has remained up to date with all relevant developments. However, Effiong has argued that the President's extended vacation has created a situation where the country is currently without leadership.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has dismissed claims of a vacuum in the office of the president. Akpabio recently returned to Nigeria after traveling to Rome, where he claimed to have prayed for Nigeria's prosperity. Despite the Presidency's stance and Akpabio's backing, Tinubu's extended holiday, which has now surpassed the 21 days provided for by section 145 of the Constitution, creates more questions about the country's governance.
Section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution states that whenever the President is proceeding on vacation, he shall transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives. If the President fails to transmit the written declaration within 21 days, the National Assembly shall mandate the Vice-President to perform the functions of the office of the President as Acting President.
Tinubu's extended vacation and Shettima's absence from the country on official duty have created concerns about the country's leadership. As of September 23, 2026, President Tinubu has spent 285 days away from Nigeria across official trips and vacations. The government has earmarked ₦8.74 billion for both international and local travels for both the President and Vice President in the 2026 budget.
The Presidency has dismissed criticisms of Tinubu's extended vacation, tagging them as baseless. However, many Nigerians have expressed concerns about the simultaneous absence of both the President and his Vice President from the country. Tinubu was hosted to dinner by French President Emmanuel Macron and shared pictures with the CEO of the Bolloré Group, Cyrille Bolloré, while in France.
Key points
- President Tinubu's extended vacation has sparked debate over a potential vacuum in Nigeria's presidency.
- The Presidency has insisted that Tinubu is managing the nation's affairs from France despite his extended vacation.
- Section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution provides for the President to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation.
