President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly altered his return schedule to Nigeria, with sources familiar with his itinerary indicating he may now return to the country on Tuesday.
This development follows the President’s anticipated return on Sunday after an extended stay in Europe, which the Presidency has referred to as a working vacation.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London for what was initially announced as a three-week annual leave. He later travelled to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency subsequently announced that the President had extended his stay by a few days and would return to Nigeria at the weekend.
However, reports on Sunday indicated that the return plan had again been adjusted, although the reason for the latest change was not immediately clear.
The President was earlier expected to arrive in Lagos and spend several days there before proceeding to Abuja.
The prolonged absence has continued to generate political and constitutional debate, particularly over Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.
The provision requires a President proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Where such a declaration is made, the Vice-President is to discharge the functions of President as Acting President.
The Constitution further provides that where the President fails to transmit the declaration within 21 days, the National Assembly may, by resolutions of both chambers, mandate the Vice-President to perform the functions of President in an acting capacity.
Opposition figures and some lawmakers have questioned whether the constitutional requirements relating to Tinubu’s prolonged absence have been fully complied with.
Members of the House of Representatives under the Save Democracy Group had also called for the National Assembly to reconvene over the matter.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who had represented Tinubu at several official engagements, travelled to New York on September 20 to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu remains in charge of government and continues to direct affairs from abroad.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also dismissed suggestions of a presidential vacancy, saying Tinubu remained in power and was running the affairs of the country.
“I am not the acting president, because the president is still in power. The president is on a working leave. So, there’s no absence in Aso Rock,” Akpabio said.
He added that the President could continue to discharge his responsibilities while outside the country, arguing that modern technology allows government instructions to be issued remotely.
The latest adjustment to Tinubu’s travel plans is therefore likely to sustain public and political discussions over the duration of his absence and the constitutional arrangements governing presidential functions during extended periods outside the country.
