The Senate has passed the Public Holiday (Amendment) Act
2019.
The bill seeks to declare June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria.
It also seeks to bring the Act in tandem with the current realities
and exigencies of modern times.
The House of Representatives had in December 2018 passed and
transmitted the bill to the Senate for concurrence.
Both chambers approved the amendments to three clauses in the
Act and the clause carrying May 29 as Democracy Day was amended to
June 12.
President Muhammadu Buhari had, in June 2018, directed that the
nation’s Democracy Day would, henceforth, hold on June 12 of every
year as against the current arrangement where the ceremony holds on
May 29.
He also posthumously awarded the winner of the annulled June 12,
1993, presidential election, Moshood Abiola, with the highest
national honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic
(GCFR). The honour is exclusively conferred on presidents and
former presidents.
The president further honoured Mr Abiola’s running mate in the
election, Babagana Kingibe, with the second highest honour of the
Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON).
One of the lawmakers who sponsored the bill at the House of
Representatives, Edward Pwajok, said the pronouncement of June 12
as a public holiday would become effective as soon as the Public
Holidays Act has been amended.
He also said May 29 would be celebrated every fourth year when
there is an inauguration of a new president.