Medical Trip: No communication to National Assembly as Buhari says Osinbajo in charge

As President Muhammadu Buhari flew to the United Kingdom for his two weeks medical check-up, he stated that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will be in charge until his return.

However, according to a publication by the PUNCH, the president failed to officially notify the National Assembly of the transfer of power.

During the sitting on Tuesday, the first plenary day after Buhari flew to the UK, there was no reading of any communication from the President on his transfer of power to the Vice President.

An official who was asked about the communication from the Presidency hinted that there was none presented.

When asked if his absence won’t affect state functions, It was reported that President Buhari said minutes before he embarked on his trip, “Well…I cannot claim to be doing the work alone. The government is fully represented. The Vice-President is there. Constitutionally when I am away, he is in charge. And then the secretary to the Government (of the Federation, Boss Mustapha) and the Chief of Staff (to the President, Ibrahim Gambari) are also there. So, there is no problem".

Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution states that ‘Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice-President as Acting President.’

Since Buhari and Osinbajo came into office on May 29, 2015, the President has transferred power to the Vice-President thrice officially.