2025 Holidays - Nigeria
| Name | Weekday | Date | Type | Subdivisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Wednesday | Jan. 1, 2025 | National | All |
| Eid-el-fitri Sallah * | Monday | March 31, 2025 | National | All |
| Eid-el-fitri Sallah Holiday * | Tuesday | April 1, 2025 | National | All |
| Good Friday | Friday | April 18, 2025 | National | All |
| Easter Monday | Monday | April 21, 2025 | National | All |
| Worker's Day | Thursday | May 1, 2025 | National | All |
| Id el Kabir * | Saturday | June 7, 2025 | National | All |
| Id el Kabir Holiday * | Sunday | June 8, 2025 | National | All |
| Democracy Day | Thursday | June 12, 2025 | National | All |
| Islamic New Year * | Friday | June 27, 2025 | Regional | Kwara, Zamfara |
| Isese Day | Wednesday | Aug. 20, 2025 | Regional | Ogun, Osun, Oyo |
| Eidul-Mawlid * | Friday | Sept. 5, 2025 | National | All |
| Independence Day | Wednesday | Oct. 1, 2025 | National | All |
| Thanksgiving Day (In Lieu) | Monday | Nov. 3, 2025 | Regional | Bayelsa |
| Public Holiday (In Lieu) | Monday | Nov. 17, 2025 | Regional | Anambra |
| Sambisa Memorial Day | Monday | Dec. 22, 2025 | Regional | Borno |
| Christmas | Thursday | Dec. 25, 2025 | National | All |
| Christmas Holiday | Friday | Dec. 26, 2025 | National | All |
* Estimated holiday dates
We continuously monitor and update holiday information, but there may be occasional inaccuracies.
Nigeria workweek and weekend
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workday | Workday | Workday | Workday | Workday | Weekend | Weekend |
Nigeria Public Holiday Observance Rules
1. Entitlement to Public Holidays
- Recognized Public Holidays: Nigeria observes several public holidays, such as New Year’s Day, Workers' Day, Independence Day, Christmas Day, and religious holidays like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. These are legally established under the Public Holidays Act. Public holiday observance may depend on government declarations and employment contracts. Source
2. Working on Public Holidays
- Compensation for Work: Employees required to work on public holidays are entitled to double pay (200% of their regular daily salary) or compensatory time off, depending on agreements with employers or collective labor agreements. Employers must negotiate with employees in advance. Source
3. Holidays Falling on Weekends
- Standard Policy: When a public holiday falls on a weekend, it remains on that date without an automatic provision for a replacement day off during the following workweek.
- Government's Role: The President or Minister of Interior often declares substitute holidays. For example, if Christmas Day (December 25) falls on a Sunday, Monday, December 26, is declared as a holiday. For overlapping holidays like Eid and Democracy Day, adjustments are made to ensure weekday observance. Source
- Public Sector Employees: Replacement holidays are more common in the public sector, where additional days off are declared for religious observances like Eid.
- Private Sector Employees: Employers in the private sector are not legally obligated to offer replacement holidays unless stated in contracts.
4. Additional Notes
- Regional and Religious Holidays: States with predominantly Muslim populations may observe additional state-specific holidays. Flexibility is encouraged for employees celebrating religious or cultural events.
Employers and employees are encouraged to consult the Public Holidays Act and relevant contracts for details. Source