Tinubu to address National Assembly on Democracy Day

President Bola Tinubu will address a joint session of the National Assembly on June 12 as part of activities marking the 2026 Democracy Day celebration.

 

The address is among several events approved by the Federal Government to commemorate the annual observance, according to the Inter-Ministerial Committee inaugurated on Tuesday to coordinate the nationwide programme.

 

Other activities scheduled for the celebration include a World Press Conference on June 4, special Juma’at prayers on June 5, an interdenominational church service on June 7, a Democracy Day public lecture on June 9, youth and women-focused programmes on June 10, a presidential broadcast on June 12, and a Democracy Day gala night.

 

Inaugurating the committee, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, paid tribute to the late Chief MKO Abiola and other heroes of the June 12 struggle, describing the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made for democratic governance in Nigeria.

 

“The democratic values and institutions being strengthened across the country today are founded on the sacrifices and struggles of patriots and democrats who fought for the enthronement of democratic rule in Nigeria,” Akume said.

 

He noted that June 12 remains a significant date in Nigeria’s democratic history and acknowledged the role of the late MKO Abiola, whose sacrifice contributed to the recognition of the date as Democracy Day.

 

Akume said the celebration would also provide an opportunity for the Federal Government to highlight its achievements and reaffirm its commitment to democratic governance, institutional strengthening and national development.

 

According to him, the Tinubu administration will use the occasion to showcase progress made in consolidating democracy and implementing reforms despite prevailing socio-economic challenges.

 

The SGF directed members of the committee to commence work immediately to ensure the successful execution of all approved activities, stressing that the celebration would be “modest but purposeful” in line with the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.

 

The committee is chaired by the SGF and includes key ministers, security chiefs and senior government officials, among them the Ministers of Information, Interior, Defence, Finance and Foreign Affairs, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services.

 

Nigeria observes Democracy Day every June 12 in honour of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest in the country’s history and believed to have been won by the late MKO Abiola.