Workers’ day and Eid -il-Fitri celebrations came in quick succession this year in Nigeria and all around the world. On Thursday, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of interior addressed the public on the declaration of May 2nd and 3rd as public holidays in celebration of this year’s workers’ day as well as the conclusion of the Ramadan fast by the Muslim faithful.
International Workers’ Day is often referred to as May Day. A day set aside to celebrate all workers for their resilient and diligent attitude to work. Workers’ day is celebrated generally as a national public holiday on the first of May except in the United States and Canada, where it is being celebrated in the month of September. Similarly, the fast-breaking festival marks the end of the Ramadan fast by Muslims worldwide after 29 or 30 days depending on when the moon is sighted. Although, there may be variations in the exact date around the world.
Today, which is supposedly a workday is declared a national holiday to celebrate the workers and also the Muslims worldwide. After the fast, Muslims are not expected to return to their sinful lives after the fasting exercise. Many workers have therefore utilized this day to rest and catch up with some other activities.
In the same vein, many Muslims in different parts of the country also trooped out to their different praying grounds of worship and also to congratulate one another on this special day.
Aregbesola had declared to workers that “The end of work is productivity”. On the other hand, he admonished that self-restraint, self-denial, and deep spiritual consciousness among many others should not end but be maintained and improved upon in order to be a better person and a true worshipper.
The end of the Ramadan fast requires a tradition of wearing new clothes, smelling nice and reciting a small prayer called Takbeer while other key elements of the Eid celebrations are, giving money to the poor, sending greetings and feasting with families.
Nigerians are hereby admonished to utilize these public holidays to cool off from a stretched activity of work and enjoy it while it lasts.
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