Reps okay June 12 as Democracy Day

By Jide Oluwole

In a historic move aimed at upholding what is presumed to be the freest and fairest election in the country’s history, the House of Representative yesterday approved that June 12 as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day. President Mohammadu Buhari began the process this year when he announced his intention to see the June 12 observed as democracy day in the country.

According to a reports made available Irohinoodua, the approval followed the adoption of a report by the Committee of the whole on a bill seeking to amend the public Holidays Act 2014 was sponsored by Hon. Messrs Edward Pwajok representing Jos South East and Hon. Kayode Oladele representing Yewa North/Imeko Afon.
Considering the report at the plenary on Thursday, the lawmakers approved three amended clauses in the Act, as recommended in the report. One of the clauses deleted May 29 as Democracy Day and replaced the date with June 12.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier in June announced that the nation’s Democracy Day would henceforth hold on June 12 of every year, as against the current arrangement where the ceremony holds on May 29.
The amendment bill had on November 22, 2018, narrowly escaped being dropped at the House when members debated it at the second reading.