Rights activist faults excessive declaration of public holidays

A Kaduna-based legal practitioner and National Coordinator, Democracy Dividends Development Initiatives, Mr. Suleiman Ahmed Akasawua has faulted the Federal Government’s declaration of today as public holiday for the independence anniversary celebrations.

He described the decision as a waste of man-hours and economic resources.According to him, the independence anniversary is marked on October 1 every year, and this year’s anniversary was celebrated on Saturday.

In a statement yesterday, Akasawua expressed concern on the additional day for public holiday, pointing out that despite the economic recession, the Federal Government still extended the anniversary celebrations.

“I am surprised that despite the current economic situation in the country, the Federal Government still extended the independence anniversary celebrations till Monday, 3rd October, 2016, thereby crippling all productive activities and further hurting the economy which is in dire need of recovery.

“I am calling on the National Assembly to critically re-examine the number of public holidays in the country and reduce them for the benefit of the economy. It is high time our leaders thought differently in order to reduce poverty, hunger and diseases in the society because the thinking of our past leaders has not helped the country in developing its potential as a nation,” he said.

He added: “I also enjoin all Nigerians to support the restructuring of the country to give a sense of belonging to the people to promote unity, peace and development because agitations and violent activities in different parts of the country are due to injustice in the political, economic, social, cultural and religious system the country operates.”