THE Nigerian Senate is set to introduce a bill that would formally establish an annual presidential address to the nation every June 12 in recognition of its democratic significance.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele revealed this yesterday during a briefing with reporters.
He emphasized that the planned legislation aims to honour the historical relevance of June 12 by mandating the President’s national address on the date, which is now celebrated as Democracy Day.
“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, especially since it is a joint sitting of the National Assembly.”
In addition, the proposed bill would designate the National Assembly Complex as the official venue for future presidential swearing-in ceremonies, beginning with the next inauguration.
According to Bamidele, “We are hoping, in that bill, to ensure that the swearing-in ceremony of the next President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria—whom we believe is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—will be held within the arcade of the National Assembly.”
The Senate is also deliberating an extension of the 2024 budget’s capital expenditure implementation timeline to ensure continued infrastructure development while preparing for the full implementation of the 2025 budget.
On constitutional reforms, Bamidele, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, acknowledged the slow pace of progress but assured the public that the committee is nearing completion.
He disclosed that zonal public hearings would commence soon, leading up to a joint public hearing by both chambers of the National Assembly.
June 12 is a symbolic date in Nigeria’s democratic journey. It marks the annulled 1993 presidential election, believed to have been won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola. In 2018, then-President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as Nigeria’s official Democracy Day to honour Abiola and the democratic ideals associated with the election.
In a historic admission, former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida publicly acknowledged in his February 2025 memoir that MKO Abiola indeed won the 1993 election, a revelation that has added renewed significance to Democracy Day.
The proposed bill is part of broader legislative efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and deepen civic engagement through symbolic and procedural reforms.