The government of the western Nigerian state of Ekiti has declared April 26 as work-free day in honour of the late deputy governor, Olufunmilayo Olayinka, who is to be buried on that day.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Taye Ekundayo, said on Sunday that the holiday is to allow massive participation of people, civil servants and visitors in the burial.
The commissioner enjoined everyone in the state to come out in large numbers to join the state government in giving the late deputy governor a befitting burial.
He gave the assurance that security measures would be put in place to protect lives and property during the burial.
Ekundayo said the late deputy governor had written her name in the annals of history of the state by being an effective “co-pilot’’ to Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Mrs Olayinka, former banker, died 6 April after several years battling breast cancer. She was born 20 June 1960.