Bauchi State House of Assembly has unanimously adopted a motion to enact a law that will make every 1st of Muharram of Hijira calendar a public holiday in the state.
The adoption followed a motion moved by the Member representing Chiroma Constituency, Hon. Ahmed Maikudi Yaya calling on the State Government to declare 1st Muharram of Hijra Calendar as public holiday.
Leading a debate on the motion, Hon. Maikudi Yaya said that the 1st of Almuharram is the first day of the Islamic calendar but has not been recognized and declared as public holiday in order to commemorate its commencement, especially in community where such recognition is apt and relevant.
He told the House that there are many States like Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, etc that considered and declared the day as public holiday in order to celebrate the commencement of the Islamic Hijra.
Hon. Ahmed Maikudi Yaya observed that the culture will recognize the importance of Islamic calendar to Muslim communities and could serve as a reminder to the followers of the system so as to be able to track some important Islamic rituals that are embedded in the Hijra Calendar system.
He, therefore, urged the House to request the Executive Arm of Government to declare 1st Almuharram as public holiday.
In his contribution, Hon. Barr. Habibu Umar representing Kirfi Constituency said that fortunately the day, 1st day of Muharram was today which showed that the motion was timely.
He noted that declaration of 1st Almuharram as public holiday will make the present generation to be familiar with Islamic calendar, observing that many people are not aware that today is the 1st of Muharram.
Hon. Habibu therefore supported that looking at the importance of the Islamic calendar, its commencement day should be declared as public holiday.
Hon. Dr. Nasiru Ahmed Ala representing Chinade/Madara Constituency said that Bauchi State though a majority Muslim State has been leaving peacefully without any religious disharmony therefore declaring 1st day of Islamic calendar as public holiday will further promote unity.
He, therefore, requested that the motion should be adopted.
Hon. Auwal Hassan representing Shira Constituency suggested that the motion is very important thus it should be upgraded to a Bill so that a law will be enacted to make every 1st day of Almuharram a public holiday in the State.
The Speaker, Abubakar Sulaiman supported the suggestion of Hon. Auwal Hassan, saying that making it law will be more powerful and binding on the government than a motion.
