Ministry Of Interior Debunks Reports Of Public Holidays For Christmas, New Year Celebration

The Ministry of Interior has come out to dispel reports circulating in some parts of the media about the declaration of public holidays ahead of the festive period.

Naija News reports that the ministry in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Afonja Fatai Ajibola, on Saturday, said official dates for holidays for the yuletide season are yet to be fixed.

The ministry debunked the trending news reportedly credited to the Ministry on the announcement of Public holidays for the yuletide.

Recall that a report making rounds in the media yesterday revealed that the federal government had declared public holidays for the celebration of Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year respectively.

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The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in the report, was said to have announced dates for public holiday in a statement signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Belgore Shuaib, on Friday in Abuja.

The minister allegedly disclosed that December 26 and 27 as well as January 2, 2023, have been set aside as public holidays to mark the festive season.

He asked Christians to emulate the doctrines of Jesus, noting that “we must imbibe the life of Jesus Christ in His practice and teachings on humility, service, compassion, patience, peace, and righteousness.”

However, the ministry called on members of the public to disregard the trending statement, describing it as fake news and await a formal public announcement on the issue in the next few days.

The ministry said, “The Ministry of Interior wishes to state categorically that the trending story is not true, as the Federal Government is yet to declare a public holiday formally.”