The Nigerian Senate has passed the Public Holiday Act
Amendment Bill to recognise June 12 as the new Democracy Day.
The bill was passed almost one year after President Buhari
announced that the date would replace May 29 for Nigerians to commemorate the
return to the civilian government. While some members of the National Assembly
had criticised the President that Democracy Day cannot be changed by just a
declaration, others commended his decision.
President Buhari’s declaration was later approved in the
Senate by an act of parliament after the lawmakers considered the bill seeking
to amend the Public Holiday Act on Thursday. The bill, which is in concurrence
with that of the House of Representatives, will now be forwarded to the
President for assent.
President Buhari had on June 6, 2018 announced June 12 as
the new date which Democracy Day would be celebrated in the country, to honour
the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, Moshood Abiola, who was
fondly known as MKO.
He explained that the date was more symbolic of democracy in
the Nigerian context than May 29, or even October 1. The President had also
conferred a posthumous GCFR title on Abiola, while his running mate in the
election, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, got a GCON national honour.
Six months later, the House of Representatives adopted June
12 as the new Democracy Day.
