Government declares public holidays for traditional worshippers

Traditional worshippers in Lagos State will soon get a public holiday set aside for them to celebrate just like their Christian and Muslim counterparts.

The State Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Solomon Bonu disclosed this while giving an account of their stewardship in the past two years.

According to Bonu, the bill on the proposed public holiday for traditional worshipers is currently before the State House of Assembly; assuring that it would soon be passed by the lawmakers and signed into law by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

With the bill, he explained, there will be a specific day earmarked for traditional worshippers as a public holiday or work-free day.

“On that day, which may likely be in August, the government will organise activities to celebrate with them at a venue where all worshipers will gather. It is our culture; it is the first religion and religion of our forefathers before Christianity and Islam came into being. So, the day will give us an opportunity to display our tradition and culture,” he said.

He further noted that the bill will regulate activities of worshipers and masquerades among others with a view to curbing their excesses and turning it into a tourist attraction for people who visit Lagos.