TAIWO FAROTIMI
The federal government has cleared the air on the presumption that there might be a public holiday on June 12 this. This followed the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari that the date will replace the May 29 that was adopted since 1999.
A statement from presidency emphasized that there will be no “FEDRAL holiday” on June 12 this year, as the presidential order stated that the June date will replace the may 29 hitherto adopted for the day.
Perhaps being in the mood of celebration, Nigerians failed to read the president’s statement properly or it could have been a carryover of the love for public holidays in the country. However, the statement from presidency was also clearly worded. It says there will be no “FEDERAL public holiday”. That is in the spirit of federalism, as some states like Osun, which had consistently observed June 12 over the years are expected to romanticise the date even with the development.
Below is the statement from the presidency:
NOTICE:
There have been questions regarding whether or not there will be a FEDERAL public holiday on June 12, 2018.
The answer is NO.
Presidential Order says June 12 “in FUTURE YEARS will replace May 29th as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day.”
