Ekiti declares Friday work-free ahead of gov poll

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ekiti State Government has declared Friday, June 19, 2026, a work-free day to enable residents, particularly civil servants, to participate fully in the governorship election scheduled for Saturday.

The directive was announced in a circular issued by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Janet Funke Ajibola.

According to the circular, the decision was approved by Governor Biodun Oyebanji to allow workers sufficient time to travel to their respective communities and designated voting centres ahead of the election.

The government explained that the move was intended to encourage wider participation in the democratic process and ensure that eligible voters were not hindered by official duties from casting their ballots.

It, however, clarified that the work-free day would not apply to providers of essential services across the state.

Institutions exempted from the directive include hospitals, health centres, fire service departments and other critical agencies responsible for public safety and welfare.

“The work-free day is to enable workers travel to their respective voting centres in preparation for the gubernatorial election coming up on Saturday, June 20, 2026,” the circular stated.

The government further directed heads of essential service institutions to make adequate arrangements for uninterrupted service delivery, while chief executives and accounting officers were urged to ensure full compliance with the directive.