Monday 2nd May and Tuesday 3rd May gave been declared work-free to commemorate the Workers’ Day and Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
Some Nigerians had speculated that next Wednesday would also be a public holiday to mark these occasions.
Also known as Labour Day, the international holiday to celebrate workers was first recognised in Nigeria in 1980 by the Kano State Government of the now late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi of the People Redemption Party (PRP), a centre-left party first led by Mallam Aminu Kano, who died at 63 in 1983.
The Federal Government adopted the day as a national holiday on 1st May 1981.
This year’s 30-day Ramadan fast ends on Sunday, 30th April, and the next two working days – Monday and Tuesday – will now serve as public holidays for both Workers’ Day and Eid-el-Fitri.
A statement by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Shuaib Belgore on Thursday quoted the Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as commending workers for their hard work, diligence, and sacrifice, noting that their efforts have been largely responsible for Nigeria’s greatness and the respect the country now commands in the comity of nations.
Aregbesola said: “Labour is the very essence of humanity. We are alive because we work and only the dead are incapable of working.
“I, therefore, enjoin workers to imbibe the culture of productivity. Workers are also urged to raise the bar of their trade-in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s drive to rev up the vehicle of governance and make all the people of Nigeria derive maximum benefit from the nation. The end of work is productivity. It is productivity that leads to the satisfactory provision of goods and services and wealth creation. It is therefore the path to national and individual prosperity”.
The Minister also congratulated all Muslims on the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
He called on them to imbibe and practice the virtues of kindness, love, tolerance, peace, self-denial, sacrifice, and good neighbourliness, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
“The Minister expresses confidence that the security challenges in some parts of the country will soon be a thing of the past, noting that the government is putting determined efforts and all necessary measures in place for Nigerians to enjoy unfettered peace all round,” the statement further stated, adding:
“Ogbeni Aregbesola assures Nigerians that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is fully committed to the security of life and property of every citizen and foreigners alike”.
He urged Nigerians to be part of the nation’s security architecture by being vigilant and reporting suspicious individuals and activities to law enforcement agencies.
