Buhari writes NASS on resumption

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly to notify the legislature of his resumption of work after recovering from an undisclosed ailment which necessitated his nearly 105 days of medical vacation in the United Kingdom.

The communication with the legislature is in line with constitutional provision.

A statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, on Monday in Abuja said in a letter dated August 21, 2017, he told the Senate as well as the House of Representatives, that he was resuming office.

Buhari had returned to the country on Saturday, August 19, 2017.

The letter stated in part: “In compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I write to intimate that I have resumed my functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from Monday, 21st August, 2017, after my medical follow-up in the United Kingdom.”

President Buhari had left for London on May 7, 2017, and handed the reins of government to the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who functioned as the Acting President.

Adesina who spoke to State House correspondents before the statement was released, explained the terse nature of the broadcast earlier made to Nigerians by the president, saying: “That broadcast was just one step of many steps that are going to be taken in the days and weeks and months ahead so you can’t expect that everything will be said in one day.”

On what Nigerians were now to expect with the president’s return, the presidential spokesman said, “it means the president they voted into office, who has been serving them and who was indisposed for some time and who came back on Saturday, is ready to continue with the work he has been doing.”

Meanwhile, the president may be operating from home in meantime as he awaits renovation work to be effected in his office at the presidential villa.

Senior Presidency source confirmed on Monday that work would be done on the office while the president would work from his residence for the period of the renovation work.

The source was unable to determine how long the renovation work would last.