PVCs: Lagos orders all markets closed

The Lagos State Government has ordered the closure of all markets in the state on Saturday.

The closure is to enable all market men and women obtain their Permanent Voter Cards.

The order was passed down to the market men and women through their various market heads on Friday.

The state government had also declared Friday a work-free day for its workers for the same purpose.

It appealed to private sector companies in the state to grant their workers half day on Friday to enable them obtain their PVCs.

However, only a few companies and schools granted the request.

The collection of the PVCs ends on Sunday.

This will however be subject to the Independent National Electoral Commission going ahead with the conduct of the general elections on February 14 and 28.

The Commission will be meeting with the country’s political parties and its Resident Electoral Commissioners on the desirability or otherwise of sticking to the initial dates scheduled for the elections.

If the dates are changed, then INEC will likely extend the period for the collection of the PVCs.

A lot of Nigerians have complained they were unable to get their PVCs, which will be used for the elections.

Some political parties, individuals and groups have said the distribution of the PVCs was lopsided, with the North allegedly favoured against the South.