FG drops military parade from 2025 Democracy Day celebrations

The federal government says this year’s Democracy Day will be marked without a military parade.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the inter-ministerial committee in the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) said President Bola Tinubu will deliver a nationwide broadcast at 7 am on June 12 as part of the celebrations.

The statement was signed by Abdulhakeem Adeoye on behalf of the director of information and public relations in the SGF’s office.

“The Inter-Ministerial Committee wishes to announce the following developments on the 26th Democracy Day celebration,” the statement reads.

“Presidential national broadcast on June 12, 2025, at 7am; no Democracy Day parade.

“H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is to attend the national assembly joint session at 12 noon.

“Public lecture on Democracy Day celebration at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Time: 4pm. Theme: ‘Consolidating on the Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms’.

Earlier, George Akume, the SGF, had said while inaugurating the inter-ministerial committee about two weeks ago that a military parade would be part of this year’s events.

Akume was represented by Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning, at the event.

He had said the celebration was an opportunity to honour the sacrifices of those who fought for Nigeria’s democratic transition.