For many employed Nigerians in the public or private sectors, public holidays are days they earnestly look forward to. A public holiday is a nationally recognised day when most businesses and other institutions are closed. On that particular day(s), almost everyone in a particular country does not have to go to work or school.
Public holidays in Nigeria are typically two types: religious festivities’ commemoration and national holidays. It is generally established by law. The law establishing public holidays in Nigeria is known as the Public Holidays Act, amended in 2019. Nationally recognised holidays are observed across the country. However, state governments also have the power to declare public holidays, which are observed only in the particular state where they are declared.
Regardless of what type of holiday and whichever constituted authority declares it, many employed Nigerians keep vigil for these days and gleefully celebrate whenever the day(s) arrives. It even gets better for them if a stipulated holiday falls on Saturday and/or Sunday. According to the Public Holidays Act, if the holiday falls on a weekend, it is transferred to Monday (and Tuesday if the holiday also falls on a Sunday).
So, how many national public holidays does Nigeria have and observe?
Table of Content hide 1January 1 (New Year’s Day) 2Good Friday (Religious holiday) 3Easter Monday (Religious holiday) 4May 1 (Labour Day) 5May 29 (Handover date for elected officials) 6June 12 (Democracy Day) 7October 1 (Independence Day) 8Eid al-Fitr (Religious holiday) 9Eid al-Adha/Eid el-Kabir (Religious holiday) 10Mawlid (Religious holiday) 11Christmas Day (Religious holiday) 12December 26 (Boxing Day)January 1 (New Year’s Day)
Every January 1 marks the beginning of a new year in the Gregorian calendar, which Nigeria adopts. Therefore, the country begins the first day of a new calendar with a holiday. Nigerians use this day to celebrate the start of a new year by attending religious services, visiting or hosting friends, or visiting leisure parks, fun spots, malls, or eateries. Some others spend the day indoors, reflecting on the past year and making their resolution(s) for the new year.
For 2022, January 1 fell on a Sunday; therefore, the holiday was moved to Monday.
Good Friday (Religious holiday)
This is the next major holiday, and it usually comes two to three months after the New Year holiday. Good Friday is a Christian religious festival that commemorates the death of Jesus Christ, regarded in Christendom as the Son of God and the Saviour of the world.
Christians solemnly mark the day by attending services and doing other religious activities. As the name of the holiday states, it always falls on a Friday. However, the date of the holiday is not fixed as it varies, but it always occurs either in March or April of any year.
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Easter Monday (Religious holiday)
This holiday marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which, according to biblical accounts, occurred three days after his death. The celebration of Easter holds a prominent place in Christendom for its adherents, as it is considered the principal celebration in Christianity,
Since the celebration of Easter falls on a Sunday, the holiday is always moved to the following day, known as Easter Monday. It is a public holiday in many countries worldwide, including Nigeria. The day is also of strong religious significance for Christians, as they gather to celebrate Easter by organising various outdoor activities.
May 1 (Labour Day)
Labour Day is a day to celebrate workers’ achievements, struggles, and sacrifices. Also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day, its origins come from the labour union movement in the United States of America, in which May 1 was chosen as the date for workers to go on strike in 1886. They specifically demanded the eight-hour day movement, comprising eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
For 2022, May 1 fell on a Sunday; therefore, the holiday was moved to Monday.
May 29 (Handover date for elected officials)
May 29 was initially celebrated as Democracy Day in Nigeria, when the Fourth Republic officially commenced. Every four years since 1999, a transition in the political nomenclature has always occurred in the country as the life of one administration ends, and another begins.
However, with Democracy Day being moved to another year, May 29 is now marked solely as the handover date. The holiday, however, occurs just once in four years, i.e., the day a new administration is inaugurated. There was no holiday on this day in 2022, but there will be a national holiday in 2023.
June 12 (Democracy Day)
Democracy day, as earlier explained, is now commemorated on a new day in Nigeria. June 12 was specifically chosen as Democracy Day to honour the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popularly known as M.K.O. Abiola, who, as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was adjudged to have won what has been dubbed Nigeria’s freest presidential election conducted on June 12, 1993.
Unfortunately, the election was annulled by the military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida. But even with the cancellation, Abiola vehemently continued to insist that the mandate given to him by Nigerians should be respected and upheld – a resistance that eventually led to his arrest and detention. Although Abiola later died in incarceration in July 1998, the agitation by pro-democracy activists to ensure that the symbolism of June 12 is nationally recognised never dimmed for a moment.
The activists’ demand was finally granted in 2018 when President Muhammadu Buhari formally announced the adoption of the day as Democracy Day in 2018. The day is marked with speeches from politicians and parades in Abuja and across the 36 states of the federation.
For 2022, June 12 fell on a Sunday; therefore, the holiday was moved to Monday.
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October 1 (Independence Day)
Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960. The sovereignty and autonomy attained by Nigeria came after nearly 99 years of colonial rule, with the British having annexed Lagos militarily in 1861.
With the lowering of the British Union Jack flag, the main demand of the pro-democracy activists was fulfilled as the country achieved self-determination and now began to be a self-governing state. As an independent country, Nigeria has the power to make its own decision and determine its trajectory as decided by its people without the fear of external influences.
The day is, therefore, celebrated across the country, with schools and offices closed. It is marked with speeches from politicians and parades in Abuja and across the 36 states of the federation.
For 2022, October 1 falls on a Saturday; therefore, the holiday will be moved to Monday, October 3.
Eid al-Fitr (Religious holiday)
Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim religious festival that marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. It falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar, which is different from the conventional Gregorian calendar. According to Muslim tradition, Eid al-Fitr was originated by the Islamic prophet, Mohammed.
The festivity is popularly referred to as Small Sallah in Nigeria. Muslims mark the day by attending salat held in an open field or a large hall. After the salat, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr in various ways, including cooking food for family and friends. During the day, people generally greet each other by saying Barka Da Sallah, a Hausa language greeting translated to mean “Greetings on Sallah.”
This holiday lasts for two days in Nigeria.
Eid al-Adha/Eid el-Kabir (Religious holiday)
This is the second and biggest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam. Eid al-Adha (or Eid el-Kabir, as it is known in Nigeria) marks the culmination of the hajj (pilgrimage) rites at Minā, near Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. It commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah’s command. It is celebrated by Muslims throughout the world on the 10th of Dhū al-Ḥijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.
Muslims begin the day by congregating either at a mosque or open field for Eid prayers. After the prayers, they embrace and exchange greetings with one another, saying Eid Mubarak, and exchange gifts. They then slaughter at their homes a ritually acceptable animal (sheep, goat, camel, or cow) in remembrance of what Ibrahim did. The family retains one-third of the meat; another third is given to relatives, friends, and neighbours; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy.
This holiday also lasts for two days in Nigeria. While Eid al-Adha is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and the Gregorian calendar is solar.
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Mawlid (Religious holiday)
Mawlid is the commemoration by Muslims of the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. It is primarily observed on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. This religious holiday is observed by the majority of Muslims throughout the world, including in Nigeria.
However, unlike Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, there are no grand celebrations for the Mawlid. Also, the Mawlid is observed for only one day compared to the aforementioned Islamic holidays, which are observed for two days. While this festivity is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the Gregorian calendar dates vary from year to year.
Christmas Day (Religious holiday)
Christmas Day is a Christian religious festival that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is considered one of the greatest mysteries and festivities in Christendom as Jesus, revered as the Son of God, was born into the world to take the form of human beings.
Christians mark the day by attending services and other religious services such as Christmas Carols. After the services, they participate in social gatherings such as exchanging gifts, visiting friends, decorating homes, and cooking and sharing foods with family, relatives, and friends.
In Nigeria, Christmas Day is observed annually on December 25. For 2022, December 25 falls on a Sunday; therefore, the holiday will be moved to a weekday.
December 26 (Boxing Day)
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (December 26). Although it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, Boxing Day is primarily known today as a shopping holiday. It is celebrated in several countries that previously formed part of the British Empire, including Nigeria.
It is a public holiday for working people and students in Nigeria. When it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is always a holiday on Monday.
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