The Ekiti State Government has announced Friday as a work-free day for public and civil servants across the state in preparation for the governorship election scheduled to hold on Saturday, 20 June 2026.
The decision was disclosed on Thursday in an official statement issued by the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, who confirmed that Governor Biodun Oyebanji had approved the measure to enable workers to travel to their respective constituencies ahead of the polls.
According to the statement, the temporary holiday is intended to promote widespread participation in the democratic process and ensure that eligible voters are able to reach their voting locations without undue difficulty. The government emphasised that the move is part of broader efforts to strengthen civic engagement and encourage high voter turnout across the state.
Further details were provided in a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishment, Dr Funke Ajibola, who clarified that the directive applies strictly to public and civil servants within the state workforce. She noted that essential service providers are exempted from the work-free arrangement.
Critical sectors such as hospitals, health centres, fire service departments and other emergency response agencies are expected to continue normal operations throughout the period. The government stressed that these institutions must remain fully functional to ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential public services during the election period.
“All heads of the exempted institutions are to make necessary duty arrangements to ensure continuous service delivery. Chief Executive Officers and Accounting Officers are to ensure compliance with this circular and give it the widest publicity within their respective organisations,” Dr Ajibola stated.
The state government further urged all affected ministries, departments and agencies to ensure proper coordination and planning so that essential services are not disrupted. It also called on management teams to communicate the directive clearly to staff members to avoid confusion regarding attendance expectations.
The declaration comes as preparations intensify across Ekiti State ahead of what is expected to be a closely watched governorship election. Political parties have been concluding final campaigns, while electoral authorities continue logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and credible voting process.
By granting the work-free day, the government says it hopes to reduce travel pressure on election day itself and allow civil servants sufficient time to return to their home communities to participate fully in the ballot.
Residents across the state are expected to head to the polls on Saturday, with security agencies and electoral officials already mobilising resources to ensure a peaceful and orderly election.