The Bauchi State Government has declared Monday, August 17, 2026, a work-free day to enable civil servants, public sector workers and employees in the banking sector to participate in the local government elections scheduled for the same day.
The declaration was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado.
According to the statement, Governor Bala Mohammed approved the public holiday following the decision of the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) to conduct elections into the 20 local government councils across the state on Monday.
The government said the work-free day is intended to give eligible voters the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote without being hindered by official duties.
The directive applies to workers at the local, state and federal levels serving in Bauchi State, as well as employees of banks and other public institutions operating in the state.
However, workers providing essential services have been exempted from the holiday.
The state government urged residents to come out peacefully and participate in the election, stressing the need for responsible conduct before, during and after the exercise.
It also assured citizens that the relevant authorities would work together to ensure a peaceful and orderly electoral process, while calling on the public to cooperate with security agencies and electoral officials throughout the election period.