COVID-19 vaccination: FCTA records 70% compliance – Official

By Stanley Onyekwere

As the enforcement of the no COVID-19 vaccination/negative test, no access directive enters day two, there is high level of compliance from staff and visitors of the FCT Administration.

Making this disclosure yesterday, Senior Special  Assistant to the  minister of FCT on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah the compliance hits about 70%, as there is massive turnout of FCTA staff and visitors who are fully vaccinated.

Attah, who went round several FCTA Secretariat, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) to check the level of compliance by the staff, said the turn up of those that had received the jab since the enforcement commenced on Monday was impressive.

He said: “We have gone to most of the offices, and we observed same. What we will continue insist is that we are not forcing people to take the vaccine, but we are only telling people two clear things -it is either you come with a recent COVID-19 negative test result or certified Vaccination card.

“As at day two of the enforcement, so far we have hit about 70%, but with amount of vaccination going on now, and people going for their test it so massive. So, we are very confident that give or take we are almost there. We just impressed for health purpose. 

“So nobody is being forced , as you have the option to them (vaccines). And what we are seeing is high turn out and compliance level, with persons showing that they have complied with the two.”

Commenting on staff who are now staying away from the office due to the enforcement, Attah said : “The Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola is clear about that, anybody who decides not to come to the office will be treated in accordance with the Civil Device Rule. 

“So if you decides to stay at home, because you don’t want to go and bring a negative COVID-19 test result, or get yourself vaccinated, you will be treated as someone has abandoned his or her duty post, thus you have breached and contravened the Civil Service Rule, and subsequently you know best how it will end.”

However, an FCTA staff, Ebikun Adekunle, who was spotted at a COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Area 11,  said “I got to know that I won’t entre the office without collecting the vaccine or showing proof negative status. This is the main reason I collected the vaccine.

He attributed his hesitancy to rumours and conspiracy theories surrounding the vaccine especially in the social media. 

Similarly, Ebi Blessing, who was on a visit to the FCTA, seen receiving her COVID-19 vaccine jab at the Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Area 11,  said she had no other option than to accept the vaccine, in order to gain access to the government facility.

“They wouldn’t allow us to gain access the FCTA premises, except we get vaccinated or present negative COVID-19 test result. So I was not willing but compelled to do so,” she added.