May 2 Monday and 3 Tuesday have been declared public holidays by the Federal Government.
According to the Interior Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the holidays are for Workers Day and Eld-el-Fitr celebrations.
A statement by issued and signed on behalf of Aregbesola by a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Shuaib Belgore, on Thursday, acknowledged workers’ hard work, diligence, and sacrifice.
The statement said workers’ efforts were largely responsible for the greatness of the country and the respect Nigeria now commands in the comity of nations.
“Labour is the very essence of humanity. We are alive because we work and only the dead are incapable of working. I, therefore, enjoin workers to imbibe the culture of productivity.
“Workers are also urged to raise the bar of their trade in line with the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s drive to rev up the vehicle of governance and make all the people of Nigeria derive maximum benefit from the nation.
“The end of work is productivity. It is productivity that leads to the satisfactory provision of goods and services and wealth creation. It is therefore the path to national and individual prosperity,” the statement read in part.
Congratulating Muslims on the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan, the statement quoted Aregbesola as advising Muslims to imbibe and practise the virtues of kindness, love, tolerance, peace, self-denial, sacrifice, and good neighbourliness, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
The statement continued: “The minister expresses confidence that the security challenges in some parts of the country will soon be a thing of the past, noting that the government is putting determined efforts and all necessary measures in place for Nigerians to enjoy unfettered peace all round.
“Aregbesola assured Nigerians that the Buhari regime was fully committed to the security of life and property of every citizen and foreigners alike, urging Nigerians to be part of the nation’s security architecture by being vigilant and reporting suspicious individuals and activities to law enforcement agencies.”