The Federal Government has declared Thursday, June 12, 2025, a public holiday in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day, marking 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule in Nigeria.
This announcement was made in a statement by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who congratulated Nigerians on the democratic milestone and encouraged citizens to reflect on the nation’s democratic journey.
“June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth and justice reign, and peace is sustained and our future assured,” Dr Tunji-Ojo said.
The 12th of June was officially designated as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in 2018 to honour the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was annulled by the military regime despite being widely regarded as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history. The election was believed to have been won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, whose legacy remains central to Nigeria’s democratic story.
As part of this year’s celebrations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will address a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. According to a statement released by the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, and conveyed through an internal memorandum issued by the Clerk of the House, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, the session will begin at 11:00 am with preliminary proceedings ahead of the President’s arrival at noon.
“President Tinubu is expected to attend the occasion as a special guest of honour and will deliver a presidential address to the joint sitting,” the House statement read.
The event will be held at the House of Representatives Chamber and will include goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the National Assembly. It will also feature the conferment of national honours on select legislators by President Tinubu, in recognition of their service to the nation’s democratic development.
The theme for this year’s Democracy Day celebration is ‘26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development’.
Describing the occasion as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey, the House of Representatives emphasised its significance in reinforcing national unity and deepening public accountability.
“This joint sitting represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey,” the statement noted. “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.”
The House further called on Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Democracy Day as a time for sober reflection, collective responsibility, and a renewed commitment to building a more inclusive, united, and prosperous country.
Democracy Day celebrations have become a symbolic occasion for evaluating Nigeria’s political progress and challenges since the return to civil rule in 1999, following decades of military dictatorship.
