By Adesakin Adefemi
President Bola Tinubu will address a joint session of the National Assembly on June 12 as part of activities marking this year’s Democracy Day celebration. The address will form part of a series of official events lined up by the Federal Government to commemorate the 2026 Democracy Day.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Inter-Ministerial Committee inaugurated to coordinate the nationwide programme.
The committee said other activities scheduled for the celebration include a World Press Conference on June 4, special Juma’at prayers on June 5, and an inter-denominational church service on June 7.
Additional events lined up include a Democracy Day public lecture on June 9, youth and women-oriented programmes on June 10, a presidential broadcast on June 12, and a Democracy Day Gala Night. The Federal Government said the lineup was designed to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Inaugurating the committee, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, paid tribute to the late Chief MKO Abiola and other heroes of the June 12 struggle.
Akume said Democracy Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by Nigerians who fought for democratic governance.
“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 stated. He particularly honoured the late Abiola, whose sacrifice, he said, led to the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day.
Akume also said the celebration would provide an opportunity for the Federal Government to showcase its achievements and reaffirm its commitment to democratic ideals, institutional strengthening, and national development.
He noted that President Tinubu’s administration would use the occasion to demonstrate progress in consolidating democracy despite prevailing socio-economic challenges.
With only 10 days to the anniversary, Akume directed members of the committee to begin work immediately to ensure the successful execution of all approved activities.
He said the celebration would be “modest but purposeful” in line with the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
The committee has been divided into sub-committees to handle various aspects of the celebration. Akume directed all sub-committee secretaries to submit their budgets for approval and expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to deliver a successful commemoration.
The committee is chaired by the SGF and comprises key ministers, security chiefs, and senior government officials, including 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 marks Democracy Day every June 12 to commemorate the return to democratic rule in 1999 and to honour the legacy of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
