The Federal Government has declared Friday, May 1, 2026, a public holiday in observance of this year’s International Workers’ Day. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the decision on Thursday, and the statement was signed by Magdalene Ajani.
Tunji-Ojo congratulated Nigerian workers on the celebration and commended them for their hard work and dedication to national development. He said their efforts are essential to the nation’s growth and prosperity, underscoring the government’s view that workers sit at the center of the country’s progress.
The announcement answers the question many Nigerians were already asking: is there public holiday on may 1st, and the answer is yes. The holiday will be observed on Friday, May 1, 2026, as the country marks International Workers’ Day.
The declaration also placed a clear emphasis on the wider meaning of the day. Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and security, and urged Nigerians to remain peaceful and law-abiding while using the occasion to reflect on unity and diligence in nation-building.
That leaves the focus on Friday itself, when the holiday will be observed nationwide and the government’s message to workers will be put into practice as a day off in their honor.
