Tinubu to address National Assembly on June 12 to mark Democracy Day

By Kunle Sanni

President Bola Tinubu will address a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, June 12, as part of events to commemorate Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

The announcement was made on Sunday by Akin Rotimi, spokesperson for the House of Representatives, citing an internal memo from the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Danzaria. The special session will take place in the House of Representatives chamber at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

“The special joint sitting is scheduled to hold at the House of Representatives Chamber, National Assembly Complex, commencing at 11:00 a.m., with preliminary proceedings ahead of the arrival of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at 12:00 noon,” the statement reads.

According to the statement, the President will deliver a keynote address as the Special Guest of Honour and confer national honours on selected legislators during the ceremony.

This year’s Democracy Day is themed “26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development.” The programme will also feature goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the National Assembly.

Rotimi described the session as a “significant moment” in Nigeria’s democratic journey, highlighting the role of the legislature in promoting good governance, accountability, and national progress over 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule.

Nigeria initially observed Democracy Day on May 29, marking the return to civilian rule in 1999. However, in 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 the new official date, in honour of the annulled 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in the country’s history.

President Tinubu’s address is expected to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic milestones and reaffirm commitments to national development and institutional integrity.