By OLAJIDE IDOWU

Commercial banks, public schools and state government offices in Osogbo, Osun, on Monday, were shut for the celebration of the new Islamic year, Hijrah 1446.

Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun had on July 5, declared Monday as a public holiday to commemorate the new Islamic year, Hijrah 1446.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gate of the state government secretariat at Abere was shut, just as employees of local government councils and public schools did not come to work.

The gates of courts in the state and likewise the House of Assembly were equally shut with no member of staff in the premises, except for security officers at their posts.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office opposite the Assembly Complex and the Federal High Court were opened for business activities.

Similarly, other Federal Government establishments and offices were opened for business as the public holiday declared did not affect federal workers.

Mr Ajani Lukman, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, told NAN that he was obliged to be at work since the holiday was not declared by the Federal Government.

“It is not even possible to join any holiday declared by the state government, when I am not a state government employee.

“As a Muslim, I wish my fellow Muslims and the Muslim community a happy new year (Hijrah celebration), but there is no holiday for people like me who are under the employ of the Federal Government,” he said.

The celebration of Hijrah and the declaration of public holiday for the day in Osun dated back to 2015, when former Gov. Rauf Aregbesola made Hijrah an official celebration in the state (NAN)

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