The Presidency has named Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, and the ministers as the officials currently overseeing the country’s affairs in the absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Responding to public inquiries about leadership during their absence, the Presidency emphasized that the country’s governance remains uninterrupted. A statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, assured Nigerians that “there is no leadership vacuum in the country.”
President Tinubu is on a two-week working vacation, having left Nigeria on October 3. Meanwhile, Vice President Shettima is on an official trip to Sweden.
“All state organs are functioning as usual,” the statement noted. “The Senate President, SGF, ministers, and service chiefs are performing their respective duties to ensure the smooth operation of government.”
Onanuga also recalled a precedent during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari when both Buhari and then-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were abroad simultaneously, attending separate international events. He noted that similar instances have occurred under the current administration without disrupting governance.
The statement stressed that the Constitution does not mandate the physical presence of the president or vice president within the country for the government to function effectively.
It further cited an example from earlier this year when President Tinubu was in London, Saudi Arabia, and the Netherlands, while Vice President Shettima traveled to Nairobi and Dallas for summits. “During these periods, the government’s operations continued seamlessly,” Onanuga reiterated.
The Presidency affirmed that both Tinubu and Shettima remain actively engaged with national affairs, even while working from abroad.
