Nigeria’s National Assembly is moving to formalize two key democratic traditions as part of efforts to strengthen governance and mark June 12’s historic significance.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced in Abuja that lawmakers are preparing a bill to mandate that future presidential inaugurations take place in the ceremonial arcade of the National Assembly, replacing the current venue at Eagle Square.
At the same time, the bill will institutionalize the annual “State of the Nation” address delivered by the President to a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives each June 12, aligning the speech with Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebrations.
Bamidele emphasized that June 12 not only commemorates the 1993 landmark election but also marks the most fitting occasion for both ceremonies, reinforcing national symbolism.
In addition to these moves, Bamidele confirmed that the Senate would propose extending the implementation timeline for the 2024 capital budget. This is intended to ensure that key infrastructure projects are completed before the 2025 budget cycle begins.
Bamidele, who serves as Vice-Chair of the Constitution Review Committee, also provided a progress update: about 70% of constitutional amendment work is complete. The committee plans to hold public hearings across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in the coming weeks before finalizing the draft.
June 12, adopted as Democracy Day in 2018 to honor the annulled 1993 election won by MKO Abiola, holds enduring symbolic value. Its formal integration into national ceremonies is seen as a step toward embedding democratic values in institutional tradition.
If passed, this landmark bill would shift the pomp of presidential inaugurations and state communications into the heart of the legislature, reflecting a deliberate effort to reinforce democratic oversight and civic symbolism tied to June 12.
