COVID-19: FG Sets Dec 1 Date For Unvaccinated Workers

• Threatens nationwide office ban

The Federal Government is determined to bar its workers from accessing their offices from December 1, 2021, if they do not present proofs of vaccination against the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic or a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test done within 72 hours.

The proposed measure is part of the government’s efforts at stemming the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the country, according to the Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha.

Announcing the decision at Wednesday’s briefing by the Committee, Mustapha said; “With effect from 1st December 2021, Federal Government employees shall be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours, to gain access to their offices, in all locations within Nigeria and our Missions.”

“An appropriate service-wide advisory/circular will be issued to guide the process”, the SGF further explained.

He said statistics generated over the last four weeks on testing have shown that the trend of infection is going down in some states while in others, the trajectory is upward, adding; “The combined total for testing by PCR and RDT now stands at about 3.141, 795 million persons.”

“The Aviation authorities in collaboration with the diplomatic sector have made reasonable progress in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions are still ongoing with the UAE Authorities to resolve the impasse”, Mustapha said.

Noting that over several months, four countries were placed on high-level restrictions for travelers from such countries, the SGF said the PSC has after a review of the developments in these countries, decided to remove South Africa, Turkey, and Brazil from the restricted list.

“As you are aware, the UK has eased restrictions on fully vaccinated travelers from Nigeria to the United Kingdom with effect from 11th October.

“Nigeria welcomes this development and assures that the PSC shall continue to review Nigeria’s protocols based on global developments, science, and national experience. A revised protocol will be issued in the next 24 hours”, he said.