The Federal Government has declared Friday, October 1, as a public holiday to mark the country 61st independence anniversary.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government on Wednesday.
He congratulated all Nigerians on the 61st independence and assured of the government’s commitment to tackle and eradicate all forms of challenges.
Aregbesola said: “Our warmth, welcoming spirit and love as well as the abundant wealth inherent in our human capital and the richness of our land, makes Nigeria unarguably the leading black nation in the world and Africa’s pride and beacon of hope, if we can rally ourselves together to harness our potentials.”
In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, the Minister described Nigeria as a country of about 200 million whose people have natural talent and grit with passion that glitters like precious diamond.
“Nigerians are sparkling like diamonds in the pack, whether in Academia, Business, Innovation, Music, Movie, Entertainment, Fashion and culture.
“We are indeed the leading black nation in the entire world and no doubt Africa’s pride and beacon of hope,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the right to a 14-day paternity leave for male federal civil servants to allow them bond with their infants.
This was disclosed to State House Correspondents on Wednesday by the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, after the week’s virtual FEC meeting presided over by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
She said this was to enable for proper bonding between the father and a newborn, either natural-born or adopted, especially at the early stages of the child’s life.
Mrs. Yemi-Esan further explained that fathers of adopted babies of less than four months will also enjoy this gesture.
