President Bola Tinubu will address a joint session of the National Assembly and deliver a presidential broadcast on June 12 as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 27th Democracy Day anniversary, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has announced.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the SGF, Yomi Odunuga, and released on Tuesday in Abuja.
Akume made the disclosure while inaugurating an inter-ministerial committee saddled with coordinating preparations for the June 12 commemoration at the Shehu Shagari Complex in Abuja. With only 10 days to the anniversary, he urged committee members to begin work immediately.
A Democracy Day Gala Night will cap the week-long events on June 12. Other scheduled activities include a World Press Conference on June 4, Special Juma’at Prayers on June 5, a Special Inter-denominational Church Service on June 7, a Democracy Day Public Lecture on June 9, and Youth and Women-Orientated Programmes on June 10.
The SGF noted that the administration is mindful of the current national mood and its commitment to fiscal responsibility, assuring that this year’s celebrations would be modest in scale.
Akume paid tribute to the heroes of the June 12, 1993 democratic struggle, especially the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, describing his sacrifice as the foundation upon which Nigeria’s current democratic institutions were built.
He said the annual commemoration remains a fitting way to honour the memory of these heroes while celebrating the nation’s democratic progress.
The occasion, he added, will also provide the Tinubu administration an opportunity to showcase to Nigerians the progress made in consolidating democracy, strengthening institutions, and repositioning the country through various reform initiatives despite prevailing socio-economic challenges.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee, chaired by the SGF comprises members from various executive, security, and administrative arms of government.
Its membership includes the ministers of Information, Interior, FCT, Health, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Defence, and Budget and Economic Planning; the National Security Adviser; the Inspector-General of Police; the Director-General of the Department of State Services; as well as several presidential aides and permanent secretaries.
The committee is tasked with planning, organising, and executing all approved Democracy Day activities; co-opting relevant organisations or individuals as needed; documenting all activities for posterity; and performing any other duties necessary for the success of the celebration.
He also directed all subcommittee secretaries to submit their budgets promptly to ensure seamless implementation of the programmes.
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