Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has declared Thursday, June 30, and Friday, July 1, 2022, as public holidays in the state to enable the residents to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2023 general election.

Bello made the declaration via a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, a copy of which was made available to The Star on Wednesday.

According to him, the holiday is to enable civil servants, public office holders, and citizens of the state who have attained the age of 18 years or lost their PVCs or even changed their locations to take advantage of the ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Continuous Voter Registration exercise and obtain their PVCs.

Bawane further quoted the governor as directing all “Commissioners, Special Advisers, and top Government Officials to proceed to their respective Local Governments to sensitize and mobilize the general public to come out en-mass to register and obtain their voters’ cards before the closing date announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

The SSG added that the commissioners and SAs, at the end of the exercise, “are expected to render reports on the outcome of the exercise in their Local Government Areas”.

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He noted that PVC remains the “only tool that allows people to elect credible candidates of their choice.”

Meanwhile, the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has commended Governor Bello for the two-day public holidays, saying: “The holiday will enable Christians who have not registered before, those who have attained the age of 18 years or lost their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) or even changed their locations to have the opportunity to register.”

Rev. Yohanna, in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Dan Atori, urged the residents of the state, especially “church leaders, worshippers, civil servants, public office holders, Women, and youths to take advantage of the holiday to get their PVCs registration done.”

“We appreciate the governor, and call on Bloc leaders to mobilize and continue in the sensitization of the ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise and come out en-mass to register and obtain their Voters’ Cards before the closing,” the cleric added.

The Star