President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to address a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, May 29, marking 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria.
The announcement was made by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal, in a statement released on Monday, May 27, 2024.
This unprecedented sitting, the first of its kind since the nation’s return to democracy in 1999, will feature presentations by notable Nigerians, including former military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd).
Traditionally, the two legislative chambers convene jointly only during the annual budget presentations by the President.
Tambawal’s statement read, “This is to inform Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members that as part of the event to commemorate 25 years of unbroken democracy and legislature in Nigeria, there will be a joint sitting of both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday, 29 May 2024.”
The President will also inaugurate the newly constructed library complex in the National Assembly.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR will address the joint sitting on the state of the nation and also commission the National Assembly Library. Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members are expected to be seated by 9 a.m.”
In attendance will be Vice-President Kashim Shettima; AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, Governor of Kwara and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum; Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo; and George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Others expected include Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President; and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Gbajabiamila, who served as the Speaker of the 9th House (2019-2023), will deliver a paper on ‘Reflections on the House’, while David Mark, President of the 6th & 7th Senate (2007-2015), will speak on ‘Reflections on the Senate’.
