The House of Representatives has ratified June 12 as Nigeria’s official Democracy Day for the celebration of the country’s return to civilian rule from military rule.
The endorsement of the new date, as against the earlier May 29, followed the approval of the report on a “Bill for an Act to amend the Public Holidays Act in tandem with current realities,” by members of the House during Thursday’s plenary.
The report’s recommendation that three clauses be amended to bring the Act up-to-date was thus endorsed by the lawmakers, thereby replacing May 29 with June 12.
The bill was sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Edward Pwajok (APC, Plateau).
Daily Trust recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier directed that Nigeria’s Democracy Day be changed to June 12 in memory of M.K.O. Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.