As part of its effort to strengthen the country’s democracy, the National Assembly has proposed a law to ensure that a President-Elect is henceforth sworn-in at the arcade of the National Assembly.
The Eagles Square in the Central Business District currently serves the venue for presidential inauguration in Nigeria.
The Parliament, also, disclosed that it would pass a Bill to mandate a sitting president to deliver the State of the Nation address in the hallowed chamber of the National Assembly on June 12 annually.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this while responding to questions on the June 12 anniversary, according to a statement by his media office in Abuja
The National Assembly had invited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Thursday to mark the 2025 National Democracy Day at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Democracy Day is observed in Nigeria every June 12 in honour of late Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the 2023 presidential election adjudged as the freest, fairest and most credible election in Nigeria’s political history.
Responding to questions on Tuesday, Bamidele said: “It is our desire to institutionalise the State of the Nation address. We will bring a bill to address it to ensure that it is institutionalized. People should look forward to it.
“President Tinubu is working with the National Assembly in that regard. We are initiating a bill very soon to institutionalise the State of the Nation Address. June 12 will be a better time for the president to come and address the nation through the National Assembly.
“There is no time better than June 12 for the president to address the nation because of its historical significance. It is a joint sitting of the National Assembly. Nigerians should look forward to this legislative initiative.
“We are also hoping to change our political setting to the extent that the swearing-in of the next President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will, by the grace of God, be sworn-in at the arcade of the National Assembly of Nigeria,” the senate leader said with assurance.
The Senate leader also reportedly said that the Senate is considering an extension of the implementation period for the 2024 budget, particularly its capital expenditure component.
The Senate had in December extended the implementation of the 2024 capital budget till June 30, 2025.
“We have to sit and assess the full implementation of the 2024 budget. We will further extend the capital expenditure timeline while ensuring that the 2025 budget is fully implemented”, he said.
On constitutional reform, the Ekiti Central Senator lawmaker, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, said although progress had been slow but assured Nigerians that the process is ongoing.
He stated that the committee is currently putting finishing touches to its work and plans to hold public hearings at zonal levels in the coming weeks that would lead to a joint public hearing coordinated by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“We’ve done almost 70 per cent of the work before going public. Before the end of the third legislative year, we intend to complete the constitutional amendment process,” he said.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
