In a significant move to commemorate Nigeria’s democratic history, the National Assembly has officially designated June 12 as the annual date for the President to address a joint session of lawmakers.
The resolution came during a special session on Thursday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, as President Bola Tinubu delivered his Democracy Day speech before both chambers.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision after a motion was raised by House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. “Mr President, in the eloquent speech by the Honourable Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, he raised a motion that June 12 should be formalised as the Presidential Day of Address to the joint session of the National Assembly. I hereby put the question,” Akpabio declared.
Following a voice vote from the lawmakers, Akpabio ruled, “The ‘Ayes’ have it.” He then addressed Tinubu directly, saying, “Mr President, that is the motion of the National Assembly, done in your presence.”
The move reinforces June 12 as a day of national reflection and democratic recognition. Earlier in the week, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele had hinted at the development, revealing plans to introduce a bill that would formalise the tradition.
“We are hoping to bring a bill soon to institutionalise the President’s address on June 12 because of its historical importance,” Bamidele said. “There can’t be a better time to address the nation through the Parliament than on June 12.”
He also noted that the bill would propose using the National Assembly complex as the official venue for presidential inaugurations. “In that bill, we are hoping to ensure that the swearing-in ceremony of the next President… will be held within the arcade of the National Assembly,” Bamidele added.
June 12 marks the anniversary of the 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, and has since become a symbol of the country’s democratic struggle.
