Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, 2026, a holiday for all public servants in the state for the 2026 Isese Day celebration.

The decision was communicated through an official circular signed by the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, and addressed to accounting officers and top functionaries across ministries, departments, local councils, agencies, and parastatals in the state.

The circular was sighted by Legit.ng on Tuesday night, August 18.

Gboyega Akosile, the spokesperson to Governor Sanwo-Olu, confirmed the authenticity of the circular to Legit.

The circular tied the work-free day to Lagos state’s broader commitment to cultural promotion and heritage preservation.

It read: “In reaffirming the commitment of the state government towards promoting our indigenous culture, tradition and preserving our heritage, while providing necessary support for traditional Institutions in the State, Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has declared Thursday, 20th August, 2026 as Work Free Day for Lagos State Public Servants in commemoration of the Day.”

The directive confirmed that government offices will remain shut on that day, with normal operations resuming the following morning.

The circular added: “Consequently, work resumes on Friday, 21st August, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Accordingly, all Accounting Officers are enjoined to note the contents of this circular and give it the deserved service-wide publicity.”

Isese Day is an annual event dedicated to celebrating Yoruba indigenous culture, spirituality, and traditional practices. In recent years, Lagos state has formally recognised the day as part of efforts to promote cultural inclusivity and preserve the heritage of its people. The holiday is observed each year on August 20 across Yoruba-speaking communities.

A young man of God, Rev Nankur Peter Kundul, has been confirmed dead as a result of a snakebite he suffered while serving in a mission field in Boltim village, Gamakai District of Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Rev Kundul, who was a pastor with the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, was deployed to the community as a missionary.

A fellow pastor, Rinkyer Asaph, who shared the sad incident on the Christian Daily International social media platform on Monday, said the mission field where the late Kundul served had been invaded by venomous snakes, which had killed other people in the area.

“My heart is deeply saddened by the demise of my friend, Pastor Nankur Peter Kundul of COCIN Boltim, Gamakai, in Langtang South LGA, who lost his life to a snakebite at the Sabon Gida Clinic.

“He died as a result of a snakebite, which has also killed at least two other Christians in the past one week.

“Gamakai is the agricultural nerve centre of Langtang South. Its people depend heavily on farming for their livelihood and food production. The agricultural produce from Gamakai is a source of food security for many families in Langtang South, Plateau and Nigeria.

“But the rising incidence of fatal snakebites in the community is, therefore, not only a public health concern but a serious threat to agricultural activities, as farmers may become increasingly afraid to venture into their farmlands.

“The recent deaths from snakebites in Gamakai have reached an alarming level and demand urgent intervention. Snakebite should not become a death sentence simply because a person lives or farms in Gamakai,” Asaph said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a new salary structure for Nigeria’s Armed Forces, lifting monthly pay for a General to N3.25 million and raising a Private’s earnings to N187,200.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development in a statement. He said the new package takes effect from September 1, 2026, and covers roughly 250,000 military personnel across all ranks.

Daily Trust reported that pay increases under the scheme range from 30% to 80%, depending on rank. Senior officers above the rank of Colonel, including Brigadier-Generals, Major-Generals, Lieutenant-Generals, and Generals, will receive the lower end of the scale at 30%. Lower-ranked personnel stand to gain significantly more, with some categories attracting increases of up to 80%.

The wider financial effect of the new structure is substantial. Nigeria’s annual salary expenditure for the Armed Forces will climb from N660 billion to N924 billion once the pay adjustments take full effect, representing an increase of N264 billion per year.

The approval signals a significant shift in the federal government’s approach to military welfare, bringing pay levels more in line with the economic pressures facing service personnel amid rising living costs across the country.

What each rank will earn as new salaries, according to Daily Trust