The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially declared Thursday, June 12, 2025, a public holiday in celebration of Democracy Day, commemorating 26 years of uninterrupted civilian rule in the country.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, through a statement signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani.
Tunji-Ojo congratulated Nigerians on the milestone, emphasizing that June 12 symbolizes the nation’s continued journey toward truth, justice, and sustained peace.
“June 12 represents our historic journey toward building a nation where truth and justice reign, peace is sustained, and our future is assured,” he said.
He also praised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for upholding democratic principles and ensuring that the choices of citizens remain central to Nigeria’s political, economic, and cultural progress.
This year’s Democracy Day holiday follows closely after Eid-el-Kabir, which was observed on Monday, June 9, giving Nigerians a rare two public holidays in the same workweek.
The back-to-back holidays offer some respite to workers and are expected to boost domestic travel, religious events, and community gatherings nationwide.
As part of the 2025 Democracy Day celebration, President Tinubu is scheduled to address a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12, where he will also confer national honours on select legislators.
The update was confirmed in a statement issued by Akin Rotimi, spokesperson for the House of Representatives. According to the memo from Clerk of the House, Yahaya Danzaria, the special joint session will take place at the House of Representatives Chamber in the National Assembly Complex, beginning with preliminary proceedings at 11:00 AM, ahead of the president’s arrival at 12:00 noon.
The theme for the 2025 Democracy Day celebration is:
“26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development.”
The event will also feature goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the National Assembly, highlighting the legislative arm’s contributions to governance, accountability, and democratic growth since 1999.
The conferment of national honours on lawmakers will serve as a symbol of appreciation for those who have played pivotal roles in shaping Nigeria’s democratic legacy.
It will be recalled that in 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari moved Nigeria’s annual Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, in posthumous recognition of MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll.
The shift was intended to honour the pro-democracy struggles that followed the annulled election and to reaffirm the nation’s commitment to democratic ideals.
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