President Bola Tinubu will address a joint session of the national assembly on June 12 to commemorate Democracy Day.
A statement issued by Akin Rotimi on Sunday said the event was conveyed to the lawmakers via an internal memorandum issued by Yahaya Danzaria, clerk of the house of representatives.
Rotimi said the president will confer national honours on selected legislators during the event.
“The special joint sitting is scheduled to hold at the House of Representatives Chamber, National Assembly Complex, commencing at 11:00 AM, with preliminary proceedings ahead of the arrival of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at 12:00 noon,” the statement reads.
“The theme for this year’s celebration is:
“26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development.”
“President Tinubu is expected to attend the occasion as Special Guest of Honour and will deliver a presidential address to the joint sitting.
“The programme will also feature goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the national assembly and the conferment of national honours on select legislators by Mr. President.
“This joint sitting represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
“It underscores the pivotal role of the national assembly in safeguarding democratic values, fostering accountability, and advancing national development over the past 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.”
From 1999, when civil rule returned, the country celebrated Democracy Day on May 29, until it was changed in 2018.
In June 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as the new date for the celebration of Nigeria’s democracy.
The decision was to posthumously honour MKO Abiola, presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
