As Akwa Ibom, one of Nigeria’s states, marks its 32nd statehood on Monday, many public and private institutions have forcefully observed ‘public holiday,’ a situation blamed on poor information dissemination from government quarters.
Before the Monday, September 23, many civil servants in public service and teachers and non-teaching staffers in both public and private schools had rumoured that there would be public holiday.
Many of them believed though erroneously that anytime the state marks its creation anniversary, the state government always observed public holiday.
Usually, September 23 is usually set aside by the state government to swear in the chairman of Akwa Ibom Council of Chiefs.
As the rumour intertwined and gained momentum, the state ministry of Information which is the main government mouthpiece failed to timely dispel the rumour or inform members of public the true information.
Straightnews reporter visited and discovered that most private schools in Uyo municipality by Friday, September 20, had pasted notices of school closure while teachers in observance of the ‘public holiday.’
By weekend, some civil servants had travelled to their villages, others to farms, churches and other personal businesses and could not return early as expected.
As early as Monday, September 23, some parents who took their children to schools met gates under lock and key.
Even some day students who left for schools came back disappointed as there was no school because the gates were locked.
Our reporter said these schools were not opened for classes: Monef Nursery and Primary School, Ben Udo Street, Uyo, Idorenyin Legacy Schools, Anua, Uyo; Primary School, Eniong Offot, and Technical College, Ewet, Uyo local government area.
A permanent Secretary in one of the ministries located in Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo, confided in our reporter that most civil servants thought the day would be observed as public holiday, noting that attendance of civil servants was a little above 50 per cent.
Some civil servants who spoke to Straightnews in anonymity said they could not go. Others left for offices late because their bosses called them on telephone that there was work.
However, Charles Udoh, the state Commissioner for Information, issued a statement Sunday evening that the Akwa Ibom State government had announced that Monday September 23 is not a public holiday.
The statement entitled “NO PUBLIC HOLIDAY ON SEPTEMBER 23 revealed that the day has however been slated for the swearing in of a new chairman of the state council of chiefs for another term of two years.
The release urged ‘all civil servants to return to their duty post, while schools are to be opened for classes for all.
“The new chairman of the council of chiefs is to be sworn in by the Governor, Udom Emmanuel at the Banquet Hall of the Government House.”
The statement which came out late Sunday evening did not save the precarious situation.
Recall that the Federal Government had in November 2018 urged Nigerians to ensure the strict observance of all Public Holidays declared by the government in accordance with the provision of the law.
Minister of Interior, Lieutenant Gen (rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau who said this on Friday in Abuja, said the laws establishing Public Holidays were contained in the Public Holidays Act of 1979 as amended in 2019, which states that: “The days mentioned in the Schedule to this Act shall be kept as public holidays throughout Nigeria.”
By this no state government has right to declare a public holiday.
Meanwhile, Governor Emmanuel Monday swore in and presented staff of office to the new Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs.
His Eminence Nteyin Solomon Etuk, the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium local government area, and the 30th chairman of the Council of Chiefs since the state creation.
