The Presidency has assigned key government figures to manage the country in the absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, who are both currently overseas.
The designated officials include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, and various federal ministers.
A statement from Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, emphasized that there is no leadership vacuum despite the absence of the nation’s two highest-ranking officials.
“The President and Vice President remain fully engaged with national affairs, even while abroad, and all state organs are functioning smoothly,” the statement read.
The report clarified that President Tinubu left Nigeria on October 3 for a two-week working vacation, while Vice President Shettima recently traveled to Sweden for official engagements.
In response to public inquiries, the Presidency reiterated that government operations remain uninterrupted, with key officials ensuring continuity in governance.Onanuga further compared the situation to similar instances during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“In 2022, while President Buhari attended the 77th UN General Assembly, Vice President Osinbajo was in the UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s burial. Government functions remained seamless throughout that period,” the statement noted.
This administration also encountered a comparable scenario earlier in the year.
Between late April and early May 2024, President Tinubu traveled to London following visits to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia for the World Economic Forum, while Vice President Shettima attended the IDA21 Summit in Nairobi and later the US-Africa Business Summit in Texas.
Despite their absence, the machinery of government continued without disruption.
The Presidency stressed that the Nigerian Constitution allows for effective governance, even in the absence of the President or Vice President, noting that modern technology enables leaders to perform their duties remotely when necessary.
