Ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s address to the joint session of both the Senate and the House of Representatives at the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12, 2025, the Senate is working on legislation to institutionalise the idea.
President Tinubu had earlier in 2024, attended a joint session of the National Assembly on June 12 for the official rendition of the current National Anthem without addressing the lawmakers.
But on Thursday this week, the President will be with the federal lawmakers, totalling 460, for another special joint session where he will give an official address.
As a way of sustaining the novel idea, the Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday that the Senate will soon come up with legislation to institutionalise it.
Bamidele, who disclosed at a media briefing in his Asokoro residence, said: ” ‘We are hoping to bring a bill soon to institutionalize the President’s address on June 12 because of its historical importance.
” There can’t be a better time to address the nation through the parliament than on June 12, especially since it is a joint sitting of the National Assembly”.
He further revealed that the proposed legislation would also seek to designate the National Assembly complex as the venue for future presidential swearing-in ceremonies.
“We are hoping that the bill to ensure that the swearing-in ceremony of the next
President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria, whom we believe is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be held within the arcade of the National Assembly,” he said.
He added that the Senate is considering an extension of the implementation period for the 2024 budget, particularly its capital expenditure component, just as he hinted that before the end of the third legislative year, the constitutional amendment process shall be completed