Last week, the Senate passed the Public Holiday Act (Amendment) Bill seeking to change Nigeria’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12.
The bill, which originated from the House of Representatives, was unanimously adopted at plenary after a clause-by-clause consideration of the proposed legislation by Committee of the Whole.
The development comes as the Federal Government on Monday declared May 29 and June 12 as public holidays in the country.
While the former would mark the transition to a new government, the latter would commemorate the June 12, 1993 presidential election acclaimed to be the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.
The President’s inauguration will still take place on May 29 this year in a low-key manner, while most of the elaborate activities formerly performed on May 29 have been shifted to the new Democracy Day – June 12.
Information minister, Lai Mohammed, explained that unlike the May 29 event, world leaders would only grace the June 12 programme.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in June last year directed that the National Democracy Day be shifted from May 29 to June 12.
Buhari gave the directive while conferring a posthumous award on the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, general elections, Moshood Abiola.
