Shettima Returns From Leave Two Days Ahead of Schedule
Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria from his two-week leave, resuming his official duties two days ahead of his scheduled return date of August 20, 2026.
Shettima returned to Abuja late on Tuesday, August 18, according to officials working with the Vice President.
“He returned yesterday evening,” one of the officials confirmed on Wednesday, while another aide said, “We were expecting him since yesterday. He has resumed.”
Despite his return, Shettima was absent from Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja and presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Vice President commenced the two-week leave on August 6, 2026, with the approval of President Tinubu. It was his first official leave since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.
At the time, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, said the leave was intended to provide an opportunity for “study, reflection and intellectual renewal.”
According to Nkwocha, the period was also expected to enable the Vice President to review ongoing government programmes and deepen his understanding of emerging national and global policy issues ahead of the intensified implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Shettima’s return also coincides with the commencement of political campaigns for the 2027 general elections, following the opening of the campaign period announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Vice President chairs the National Economic Council, which comprises the governors of the 36 states, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other key government officials.
He also plays a coordinating role in several federal government initiatives, particularly in economic development, food security, humanitarian affairs, digital transformation, job creation and regional cooperation.
