COVID-19: FCTA shut out unvaccinated FCTA staff, visitors

By Stanley Onyekwere

Hundreds of unvaccinated civil servants and visitors were yesterday shut out of the offices within the FCT Administration’s Secretariat premises in Area 11 and other its Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) across the nation’s capital city.

Our correspondent reports that FCTA mounted heavy security surveillance at all entry points to its offices premises, blocking out all COVID-19 unvaccinated staff, as well as visitors.

Also, a visit at the offices of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Central Area, Social Development Secretariat,  Area 10, Garki, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council,  wuse zone 6 and others,  showed strict compliance.

It was observed that many of the blocked out staff and visitors, were seen stranded at the gate, grumbling and begging to gain access into the FCTA offices.

This was against the backdrop of last week’s circular signed by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, warning unvaccinated staff would be barred from accessing FCTA premises with effect from Monday, 17th January, in line with the one issued earlier by the Federal Government allowing staff on grade level 12 and below to resume duty. 

Briefing newsmen, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah, who heads the surveillance team, has vowed that the enforcement will be sustained to ensure maximum compliance.

Attah, who led the enforcement team to all FCTA Secretariats,  Departments and Agencies, clarified that while no staff or visitors are being forced to take the vaccines, every individual must present either a vaccination card or  a negative COVID-19 test result to gain access to the premises. 

He noted that considering the fact that the cases of  Omicron variant was still surging, stringent measures have to be  taken to protect staff and everyone that has anything to do with the administration. 

According to him, the administration has given staff enough time to choose between any of the options approved, to avoid the stressed of being turned back at the gate. 

“ We have given a full week for advocacy,  and we got a van that went round announcing it. Circulars were also circulated in line with the one earlier issued out by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, that staff who are not vaccinated. 

“ Those who say they don’t want to be vaccinated,  will get a negative test result.  So if you bring your vaccination card or the negative test result, any of the two can suffice.

“ Even if you feel you should not be vaccinated, then get us a negative test result, not more than 3 days old, and that will get access.

“ People thought that we are not serious here, but they have come to let them know that when the Ministers, Malam Muhammad Bello,  Dr. Ramatu Aliyu and the Permanent Secretary say something,  they mean it”, he stressed.

Meanwhile, it was also observed that crowd of vaccination seekers, both staff and non staff have increased at all the approved centres.