FULL LIST: Public Holidays to Be Observed in Nigeria in September 2024
Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs.
FCT, Abuja - Aside from marking important celebrations, public holidays allow Nigerians to unwind and relax while taking a break from work.
Legit.ng lists the public holidays in September 2024, helping you plan accordingly.
Source: Getty Images
1) Eid-ul-Maulud in 2024
The federal government of Nigeria will declare one day as a public holiday in commemoration of Eid-ul-Maulud celebration.
Eid-ul-Maulud, an observation of the day when the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, is reported to have been born, is commemorated in Rabi' al-Awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.
The general public has the day off, and schools and businesses are closed. Some Muslims regard this day (Eid-ul-Maulud) as a period for praise and festivity. That is why, in some countries, parades are held in the streets, and homes and mosques are decorated for the event.
Many Islamic schools and organisations hold educational programmes during Eid-ul-Maulud. These programmes aim to increase awareness and understanding of the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad among both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Eid-ul-Maulud is a time for Muslims to reflect on their faith, express gratitude for the blessings in their lives, and renew their commitment to following the principles and values taught by Prophet Muhammad.
Overall, Eid-el-Maulud is a joyous and meaningful celebration for Muslims worldwide. It serves as a reminder of the Muhammad’s teachings and encourages individuals to strive for personal growth, unity, and compassion in their daily lives.
2) 2024 Edo state governorship election
In Nigeria, the spotlight is on the 2024 gubernatorial elections, particularly the Edo state governorship election scheduled for Saturday, September 21.
Ahead of the poll, Governor Godwin Obaseki is expected to declare Friday, September 20, 2024, as a work-free day to enable workers in the state public service to travel to their respective constituencies to exercise their franchise.
For the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said 125,928 of the 184,438 newly printed permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) have already been collected in Edo state.
The PVC collection, according to INEC, represents 68.3% of the 184,438 new cards issued during the recent continuous voter registration exercise.
A pre-election poll shows that Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, is leading his two main challengers.
In the poll conducted by the African Polling Institute (API), 43% of the respondents favoured Ighodalo as the next governor, 20% favoured Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while 9% favoured the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Olumide Akpata.
However, 28% of the 2,678 respondents were undecided, according to the poll result.
3) Anambra local government election
Ten years after the last democratically-elected local government election held in Anambra state, the Charles Soludo administration has announced Saturday, September 28, 2024, as the new date for the next local council elections in the state.
State chief electoral officer and chairman of the newly inaugurated Anambra state Independent National Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Genevieve Osakwe, who made the disclosure in a recent press briefing at the commission's headquarters in Awka said every arrangement leading to hitch-free exercise would be conducted and concluded.
Going by past announcements, the Anambra government is expected to declare a public holiday to enable eligible voters to participate in the local government election scheduled for September 28, 2024.
Other public holidays to be observed in Nigeria in coming months
October 1, Nigeria Independence Day: This is a day mapped out by the Government to celebrate the day Nigeria got its independence from Britain as a country.
December 25, Christmas Day: This is a day mapped out for Christian faithfuls to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
December 26, Boxing Day: This is a holiday celebrated after Christmas day.
Isese Day: More states declare public holiday
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that at least four states in Southwest Nigeria declared a work-free day in August 2024 for public servants to commemorate the Isese Day 2024 celebrations.
The Isese Day is set aside in most southwest states to celebrate the indigenous Yoruba culture and traditions and preserve the Yoruba heritage.
More states are expected to mark the day in 2025.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Ridwan Adeola (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a content creator with more than nine years of experience, He is also a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State (2014). Ridwan previously worked at Africa Check, contributing to fact-checking research works within the organisation. He is an active member of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI). In March 2024, Ridwan completed the full Google News Initiative Lab workshop and his effort was recognised with a Certificate of Completion. Email: ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.
Ezennia Uche (Editorial Assistant)
