The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to declare January 15 as a national public holiday to honour the Nigerian Armed Forces, institutionalise national remembrance, and foster greater civic appreciation of the sacrifices made by military personnel.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan (APC, Lagos), directing the House Committees on Defence, Interior, and Legislative Compliance to work with the Federal Ministry of Interior and relevant stakeholders to ensure prompt implementation.
Whingan highlighted the decades-long sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces in defending the nation’s sovereignty, protecting citizens, confronting security threats, and promoting peace domestically and internationally.
He noted that the courage, discipline, and professionalism of military personnel remain a lasting source of national pride.
He also acknowledged the existing Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed nationwide on January 15 to mark the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970.
The day honours fallen heroes, celebrates serving personnel, and recognises veterans who continue contributing to national development.
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Declaring January 15 a national holiday, Whingan argued, would institutionalise national remembrance, create a unifying civic tradition, and strengthen ties between Nigerians and the men and women of the Armed Forces.
“Over 70 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand, observe national holidays dedicated to their Armed Forces or fallen heroes, ensuring sustained public awareness, civic education, and national unity,” he said.
He warned that without a designated holiday, public participation in wreath-laying ceremonies, remembrance parades, military honour events, school-based civic lessons, and community tributes remains limited.
This, he said, weakens national consciousness of military history, reduces opportunities for intergenerational learning, and diminishes public recognition of the sacrifices that secure the nation.
Whingan further noted that many Nigerian youths are unaware of the historical significance of January 15, contributing to a growing cultural disconnect between civilians and military families.
He stressed that a national holiday would promote patriotism, national identity, and collective appreciation for military service, while supporting the mental and emotional well-being of veterans coping with post-traumatic stress and physical injuries.
He also emphasised the critical role of the Armed Forces in addressing security challenges, including insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, illegal bunkering, piracy, and communal violence.
National recognition of their service, he said, would boost morale, encourage unity among personnel, and raise public awareness of their responsibilities in safeguarding national security.
Whingan concluded that making January 15 a public holiday would reinforce national pride, historical memory, and civic discipline, in line with constitutional values, including Section 14(2)(b), which affirms that the security and welfare of the people are the primary purpose of government.
The Deputy Speaker of the House directed Whingan to amend the Public Holiday Act so the resolution could become legally binding.
