As the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards(PVCs) is drawing close, the Lagos state government has declared four days as work-free days for public servants to obtain their voter’s cards.

The announcement was made in a circular released by Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the state’s head of civil service on behalf of the governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had extended the deadline for the collection of PVCs which began on December 12th, 2022 to January 29th, 2023, as opposed to January 22nd which was initially announced.

The Electoral Commission noted that the extension was to ensure that the registered voters have ample opportunity to collect their voter’s cards ahead of the general and to ensure that no eligible voters are disenfranchised.

Sequel to INEC’s decision, the Lagos state government, in the circular, stated that the approved work-free days will start on Tuesday, January 24th, 2023 and end on Friday, January 27th, 2023 for different grades and levels of the public servants.

The state government also encouraged the workers to ensure that they obtain their voter’s cards before the end of the extended deadline because it is within their civic duty to vote in the coming elections.

“Consequent upon the extension of the collection of permanent voters cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission, it is hereby notified for the general information that all public servants who are yet to collect their permanent voter cards from designated INEC centres are encouraged to do so before Sunday, January 29, 2023, as it is a civic responsibility to vote”, the circular reads.

“To this end, Mr governor has graciously approved a work-free day to enable public servants to collect their PVCs from their respective local government/local council development areas as presented in the table below.”

“The dates include Tuesday, January 24, 2023, for grade levels 01, 03, 07, and 15; Wednesday, January 25, 2023, for grade levels 02, 04, 08, and 13; Thursday, January 26, 2023, for grade levels 05, 09, 12, and 17; and Friday, January 27, 2023, for grade levels 06, 10, 14 and 16.

“Consequently, accounting officers and all public servants are to ensure compliance whilst giving this circular the service-wide publicity it deserves”, the statement concluded.