In the annals of Nigeria’s democratic dispensation, only former President Olusegun Obasanjo has spent his leave of absence at his Ota Farm in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Apart from him, there is no record of any other president observing leave in the country.
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who took over from him, spent a significant leave of absence in Saudi Arabia, where he received treatment for pericarditis. He left Nigeria on November 23, 2009, and returned on February 24, 2010, after over three months in a Saudi hospital. His prolonged absence even led to a constitutional crisis and the temporary transfer of powers to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan who equally became President after the death of Umaru Yar’Adua also spent his own leave of absence in South Africa.
Even the former military head of state, Muhammadu Buhari, who succeeded Jonathan as Nigeria’s president, left for medical treatment in London on January 19, 2017. Initially intended as a “short leave,” his absence was extended multiple times, resulting in a total of 104 days away before he returned on August 19, 2017.
President Bola Tinubu who is now in charge and has embarked on his leave of absence. He and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, seem to have an undying love for our former colonial masters. The reason for this is that each time they go on leave, they travel to the United Kingdom.
In reality, there are no specific laws regulating presidential leave in Nigeria, general employment laws allow for various types of leave for employees, including annual and sick leave, as outlined in the Nigerian Labour Act. This Act provides for at least six days of paid annual leave after 12 months of continuous service but primarily applies to unskilled workers and does not explicitly govern the leave practices of the President or other high-ranking officials. By this, we can conclude that presidential leave is typically determined by internal policies rather than statutory requirements.
The President’s choice of the UK has generated criticism from various segments of Nigerians. Some wonder why our leaders seem so delusional that they hardly see anything good about the country unless they travel abroad. We have witnessed instances where former President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to the United Kingdom for treatment of an ear infection. There are many of such ridiculous cases where our so-called leaders travel abroad for minor health issues, indicating their lack of faith in the country’s healthcare system.
Today, Tinubu’s decision to spend his annual leave in the UK rather than Nigeria has once again highlighted the illogical mindsets of those we call leaders. Nobody is suggesting that our President should not take a vacation; however, choosing a nation that once enslaved our forefathers and colonized us for 76 years is surprising to many of us, especially at a time when we have just celebrated 64 years of independence as a nation.
Even if Aso Rock presidential villa and Bourdillon residential building of our President are not conducive, there are other suitable domestic locations in Nigeria that are ideal for retreats or vacation. We have Ife Grand Resort & Leisure, The Purpose Resorts near Lagos, as well as Zuma Rock Resort near Abuja, all of international standards. A leader who uses taxpayers’ money to travel abroad for leave or medical tourism, without considering the implications of such practices on national pride and governance, does not have the moral right to discourage citizens from seeking greener pastures abroad.
Unfortunately, most of our so-called leaders engage in self-deception—hiding the truth even from themselves. In doing so, they embrace illusions and ignore reality. By this means, they deny evidence and rationalize choices or behaviors to serve a false narrative. That is why they tell us to endure hardship when they have no idea what hardship truly entails. These are people who urge us to patronize made-in-Nigeria goods while they import all basic necessities of life. They advise us to use government hospitals while they embrace medical tourism abroad.
While many of these clueless leaders continue to use taxpayers’ money to observe leave abroad, no serious leader from a developed nation has ever taken leave or retreats outside their own countries. American presidents utilize Camp David in Maryland for retreats and meetings. The UK Prime Minister uses Chequers Court in Buckinghamshire for similar purposes. In Germany, Schloss Meseberg serves as a government guesthouse for hosting retreats and dignitaries. Even in France, president use Fort de Brégançon for retreats. In Japan, the official residence of the Prime Minister is typically used for such occasions.
In contrast, the situation in Nigeria highlights the myopic nature of those we call leaders. While the majority of Nigerians suffer amid plenty, our leaders’ frequent international travels reflect poorly on our economy.
Records indicate that between June 2023 and May 2024, the presidency spent approximately ₦16.06 billion on foreign trips, with ₦10.93 billion attributed solely to the president’s travels.
At 64 years old, Nigeria should be leveraging its potential to grow and rank among developed economies; instead, we remain an underdeveloped country due to the shortsightedness of our leaders
While nations worldwide work to improve their citizens’ lives, Nigerian leaders seek ways to enrich themselves and their families.