The Federal Government has declared tomorrow as a public holiday. This is to allow Nigerians, especially workers, prepare for the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly election on Saturday.
But bankers have been excluded.
Interior Minister Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau made the declaration last night.
A statement issued by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Georgina Ehuriah, however, excluded bankers and those offering essential services from the holiday.
Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has declared today public holiday for public and civil servants to enable those who have not registered or collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so.
The governor gave the directive yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, through a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Olalekan Alli.
As the registration entered its last day today, preparatory to the 2019 general elections, Ajimobi enjoined workers to take advantage of the work-free day to perform their civic responsibility.
Alli said: “The governor has directed that it is mandatory for all public and civil servants in the state to ensure that they duly register for their PVCs in the ongoing exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which ends on Friday (today).
“Consequently, His Excellency has directed that August 31 (today) be observed as work-free day in all government offices across the state.”
Sterling Bank Plc, is cementing its reputation as a Great Place To Work with its recent work-free day announcement for all employees across the country. This is in line with the bank’s Active Citizens Programme (ACP) encouraging employees to register and collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards.
Beyond promoting voting rights, the bank’s Active Citizens Programme also motivates employees to be productive, responsible, caring and be contributing members of their communities in alignment with its purpose of Enriching Lives.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar Suleiman, said the bank is passionate about promoting active citizenship among employees as a business of wholly Nigerian origin which makes it important to place national interests above individual preferences.
“We believe that when more citizens are active and perform their duties to the nation, the country becomes a better place for all. These duties include abiding by the law, tax remittance and more importantly participating in the electoral process to strengthen our democracy.
The Lagos State Government yesterday declared Thursday as work free day in the state.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan said it will enable Lagosians come out en masse to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on a two-day visit.
The statement urged residents to adhere to the security guidance earlier announced to make the visit as peaceful and orderly.
Announcing traffic diversions and alternative routes ahead of the visit, Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal, at a briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, said adequate preparations have been made to mitigate the impact of the road diversions on residents, while access would be given to any emergency situation.
Edgal, who addressed the briefing alongside heads of security and emergency agencies in the state, said while in Lagos, the President would commission the new Ikeja Bus Terminal, attend a colloquium in honour of national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and as well as embark on tour of the Eko Atlantic City, among others.
He said: “To ensure smooth, security-free visit of the President, we would need to do some diversions. Some certain roads will be closed at certain times; some diversions will be made but I want to use this opportunity to appeal for the support and understanding of Lagosians that this temporary road closures and diversions might cause a little inconvenience.”
He listed the areas to be affected to include Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, Agege Motor Road, a section of Eko Hotel Road in Victoria Island and Old Marina in Ikoyi axis.
Buhari will inaugurate the world-class Ikeja Bus Terminal built by the Lagos State Government.
The terminal, which is behind the Ikeja rail line and about 1km from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, will connect 22 routes and transport a projected 70,000 commuters daily.
It is one of the 13 terminals being constructed across the state in the first phase of the project.
The one in Alapere was inaugurated yesterday.
The one at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has also been completed.
Buses to service the Ikeja terminal will come from the over 5,000 acquired by the government, which have started arriving in the country.