The Senate is considering a legislative proposal that would mandate an annual presidential address on June 12, in recognition of the day’s historical significance.
The proposal also includes a shift in the venue of presidential inaugurations from Eagle Square to the National Assembly Complex.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele disclosed these plans in an interview on Tuesday, stating that lawmakers aim to prepare a bill to formalize the President’s speech to the nation on Democracy Day.
“We are hoping to bring a bill soon to institutionalize the President’s address on June 12 because of its historical importance,” Bamidele said.
He argued that the day would serve as an appropriate occasion for the President to speak directly to Nigerians in a joint sitting of the National Assembly, reinforcing the day’s significance.
Beyond the speech proposal, Bamidele revealed that the bill would also seek to designate the National Assembly Complex as the official venue for future presidential swearing-in ceremonies.
“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,” he added.
The proposed bill also covers an extension of the implementation period for the 2024 budget, particularly its capital expenditure component.
“We have to sit and assess the full implementation of the 2024 budget. We will further extend the capital expenditure timeline while ensuring that the 2025 budget is fully implemented,” Bamidele noted.
On constitutional reform, Bamidele, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, acknowledged that progress has been slow but assured Nigerians that the process is advancing. He stated that public hearings at zonal levels would be conducted soon, leading to a joint public hearing coordinated by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“We’ve done almost 70 percent of the work before going public. Before the end of the third legislative year, we intend to complete the constitutional amendment process,” he said.
June 12 holds a symbolic place in Nigerian history following the controversial annulment of the 1993 presidential election, believed to have been won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. The annulment sparked national protests and calls for democratic reforms.
In 2018, then-President Muhammadu Buhari officially moved Nigeria’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 in honor of Abiola and the historic election.
Adding a new twist to the longstanding debate, former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida, in his book released in February 2025, publicly admitted for the first time that Abiola won the election.
As discussions on constitutional reforms and governance continue, analysts say the proposed bill could reshape the traditions surrounding Nigeria’s presidential ceremonies and deepen reflections on Democracy Day.
