The Senate is considering legislation to mandate a presidential address every June 12, recognizing the day’s historical significance as Nigeria’s Democracy Day. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced this in an interview with reporters on Tuesday, revealing plans to introduce a bill formalizing the address during a joint sitting of the National Assembly.
“There can’t be a better time to address the nation through the parliament than on June 12,” Bamidele said. The proposed bill would also designate the National Assembly Complex as the venue for future presidential swearing-in ceremonies. “We aim to ensure that the next President’s swearing-in, which we believe will be President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is held within the arcade of the National Assembly,” he added.
Bamidele further disclosed that the Senate is evaluating an extension of the 2024 budget’s capital expenditure timeline while ensuring full implementation of the 2025 budget. “We will assess the 2024 budget’s implementation and extend the capital expenditure timeline as needed,” he stated.
On constitutional reform, Bamidele, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, admitted progress has been slow but assured Nigerians that the process is nearing completion. “We’ve done almost 70 percent of the work. Public hearings at zonal levels will begin soon, leading to a joint hearing by the Senate and House of Representatives,” he said, targeting completion before the end of the third legislative year.
June 12 gained prominence following the controversial annulment of the 1993 presidential election, widely believed to have been won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola. The annulment by then-Head of State Ibrahim Babangida triggered nationwide protests. In 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari redesignated June 12 as Democracy Day, replacing May 29, to honor Abiola and commemorate one of Nigeria’s freest elections. In a significant revelation, Babangida admitted in his February 2025 book that Abiola indeed won the 1993 election, marking a historic acknowledgment of the democratic struggle.
