Friday June 13, 2025|
The leadership of the National Assembly has reflected on 26 years of unbroken democratic governance and resolved to double down on the delivery of democratic dividends to Nigerians.
According to TheNATION reports, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representative Speaker Abbas Tajudeen spoke for the federal lawmakers during yesterday’s joint sitting.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu got a request from the lawmakers that the Parliament should henceforth be used as platform for the delivery of the State of The Nation address.
Speaker Abbas made the request and Akpabio turned it into a motion which was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.
Akpabio said: “Mr. President, the Speaker has moved a motion that you should make the State of the Nation Address to the nation from the National Assembly a yearly affair especially on June 12 and it has been seconded by the Senate President.”
As the lawmakers unanimously adopted the motion, Akpabio told President Tinubu to consider the request while also paying tribute to him for being the first President to deliver the State of the Nation Address to the nation through the parliament.
Akpabio described President Tinubu as a symbol of democratic resistance and a veteran of Nigeria’s democratic trenches, declaring that his presence at the National Assembly on June 12 was not only historic, but deeply symbolic.
The Senate President said President Tinubu’s journey from exile and activism to the presidency was a living proof that the sacrifices of June 12 were not in vain.
He said: “Your Excellency, your presence here rekindles the memory of a long and courageous journey marked by struggle, sacrifice, and an unyielding belief in the ideals of democracy.
“You are not just the President of Nigeria today, you are a symbol of democratic resistance.”
Akpabio relived how the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola, was annulled on June 24, plunging the country into turmoil.
“What followed was a dark chapter. Protests erupted. Many paid the ultimate price. Some fled. Some were jailed. But a few stood firm. You were among the few. When others chose silence, you chose courage,” he said.
Akpabio told the packed chamber that Nigeria’s democracy was not gifted by the military, but reclaimed by the people, through blood, sweat, and bold resistance.
He said the commemoration of the Day was not a ceremonial event, but a reminder of the fire that forged the country’s democratic identity.
Abbas restated the need for the administration to redoubles efforts despite its landmarks in just two years in office, saying “it was not yet Uhuru”.
The Speaker drew the attention of the President to the need to revolusionalise the nation’s power sector to operate optimally.
He informed the President of the resolve of the National Assembly to give Nigerians a people-oriented Constitution by December 2025 and providing constitutional backing for 35 per cent affirmative action.
He said: “While we celebrate our successes, we remain acutely aware that it is not yet Uhuru. As we enter the second half of our term, our determination is unequivocal: to expedite and finalise the constitutional amendment process by December 2025.
“Some of our priorities include special reserved seats for women, formal constitutional roles for traditional rulers, and legal backing for a 35 per cent affirmative-action gender policy.
“We appeal to the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Progressive Governors’ Forum to advocate for these essential reforms at the state level. Mr. President, I would be remiss in my responsibility to you if I concluded my brief remarks without also offering some useful recommendations on the way forward.
“You have demonstrated remarkable resolve in removing the fuel subsidy and allowing the Naira to float. Now, we require an equally decisive intervention in our power sector.
“While progress is evident, it is time to ‘wave your magic wand’ once more: to break the cycle of underperformance by shifting from an over-reliance on thermal and hydro-electricity to a diversified energy mix.
“We must embrace renewable and clean energy sources, such as solar, wind, and even nuclear, to ensure a reliable and sustainable national grid. If anyone can do this, Mr. President, it is you.”
He said developing the solid minerals’ sector is essential for Nigeria’s economic diversification, saying “while we have some existing geological data, it lacks the precision and quality needed to support large-scale exploration.
Democracy Not Gifted By Military, But Reclaimed By Nigerians, Says Senate President Akpabio
