The federal government of Nigeria has said May 29 and June 12 are now National public holidays. However, May 29th will now be observed as the inauguration day and June 12th Democracy Day.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this known in May 2018 while announcing the schedule of events for the transition of political power at the federal level.
He confirmed that inauguration into power at the federal level will now be celebrated every four years on May 29 while democracy day will now be celebrated on June 12, making both days national holidays.
Since Nigeria returned to civil rule on May 29, 1999, the country had observed its Democracy day on May 29.
Democracy Day marks the day the Military handed over power to an elected civilian government in 1999, marking the beginning of the longest continuous civilian rule since Nigeria’s independence from colonial rule in 1960.
