By Kazeem Ugbodaga
In a bid to entrench deeper democratic values and elevate the symbolism of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the National Assembly is set to introduce two landmark legislative proposals: one mandating that future presidents be sworn in at the National Assembly complex, and another requiring an annual State of the Nation address on June 12.
This revelation came from the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during a media interaction in Abuja on Tuesday ahead of the 2025 Democracy Day celebrations.
According to Bamidele, the National Assembly is finalising plans to draft a bill that would institutionalise the president’s State of the Nation address, to be delivered each year before a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives on June 12—a date chosen for its national democratic significance.
“President Tinubu is working with the National Assembly in that regard. We are initiating a bill very soon to institutionalise the State of the Nation Address,” Bamidele said.
“There is no better day than June 12 for the president to speak directly to the nation, and we believe Nigerians will welcome this democratic advancement,” he added.
The move is designed not only to give greater ceremonial importance to the legislative branch but also to reaffirm June 12 as a pivotal date in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
The date commemorates the annulled 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief MKO Abiola, which is widely regarded as the fairest election in Nigeria’s history.
Bamidele also confirmed plans to relocate the presidential inauguration ceremony to the National Assembly’s arcade, rather than the current tradition of swearing-in at Eagle Square.
“We are also hoping to change our political setting so that the next President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces will, by the grace of God, be sworn in at the arcade of the National Assembly,” he added.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to address a joint sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday as part of the 2025 Democracy Day celebrations.
