President Tinubu Takes Working Leave to Recharge After Months of National Issues

President Bola Tinubu has begun a three-week annual working leave, a decision his spokesperson, Sunday Dare, has publicly defended, stating the break is necessary for the President to “refuel” following an intense period of addressing critical national matters. Dare conveyed this information to journalists on Sunday after accompanying the President to the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

According to Dare, President Tinubu has dedicated the past six to seven months to tackling significant state affairs, including crucial decisions impacting Nigeria's security and economic landscape. He remarked, “The President has had several months—six, seven months—of being engaged with state matters. We’ve seen monumental changes, monumental decisions taken with our security, with our economy and so many other things as pertains to the running of the affairs of this country.”

The presidential spokesperson further highlighted that the upcoming campaign season for the 2027 elections would usher in several more months of demanding political activities for the President, even as governance continues. Consequently, Dare underscored the importance of Tinubu utilizing this opportunity to rejuvenate before that period. He added, “And at this point, it’s important that the President also refuels.”

Dare, however, clarified that President Tinubu’s three-week absence would not be a complete disengagement but rather a working leave. He assured that the President would consistently receive briefings and continue to attend to pressing state matters. “And even though he’s going on leave, we know that he’ll be engaged with state matters on a daily basis. He will receive briefings from his ministers, from the service chiefs as the case may be, and from every other person who is handling very key decisions in our country,” Dare affirmed.

Reported by Deji Elumoye in Abuja.