Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has given public servants and members of the Executive Council in the State three weeks to vaccinate against COVID-19.
The directive that was conveyed in a memo titled “Mandatory taking of COVID-19 vaccine and observance of its protocols,” was dated September 15th and signed by Head of Service permanent secretary, S. A. Aina.
The memo that emphasised the directive must be taken seriously by all the affected workers in the state and local government services, noting that the directive is part of the measures to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.
The memo reads: “Consequent upon the rampaging and virulent third wave (Delta Variant) of the COVID-19 virus, Osun State government is determined to halt its continuous spread in the state.
“Hence, the government has provided COVID-19 vaccine to be taken by all workers in its various health facilities.
“This is with a view to ensuring that the vaccine is taken in order to protect and prevent the workforce and residents from being infected with the virus.
“Arising from the foregoing, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has mandated all public servants who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 to visit the nearest Government Health Centre to them or their place of work to get vaccinated forthwith.
“This directive of Mr. Governor must be taken very seriously by all the affected workers across the entire state and local government services.
“In addition to the above, the governor has directed that all public servants should continue to follow all COVID-19 protocols such as wearing of face mask, staying at least six feet away from one another, avoiding crowded places, constant washing of hands/ using hand sanitisers, among others.”
However, The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Siji Olamiju explained that “We have given them three weeks to have themselves vaccinated, and in this regard, the head of the service is the campaigner for this, sensitising all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to the availability of test and eventual vaccination.
“And after this given period, anyone who citrate to this, then we would know which action to take,” he added.
SaharaReporters had on September 3rd reported that Nigerians took to their social media to condemn the proposed directive by the Nigerian government to make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for civil servants.
They expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, saying it was a misplaced priority on the part of the government.
While some criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing poverty to eat up the country during his regime, others decried incessant insecurity that has reached its peak in recent times.
Some concerned Nigerians have therefore taken to their social media pages to criticise the move to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for civil servants.
