FG To Lock Out Workers Without COVID-19 Test Or Vaccination Proof From 1 Dec

Civil servants would from 1 December be asked to present proof of vaccination or negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), tests conducted within 72 hours to have access to offices.

The Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha announced this during the presidential press briefing in Abuja.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to Government of the Federation, said that the move was to improve vaccination rate across the country.

According to him, with effect from 1 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.

He said that this was to gain access to their offices in all locations within Nigeria and the Missions, adding that an appropriate service wide advisory/circular would be issued to guide the process.

He also advised Nigerians to increase vigilance during the festive period.

“The PSC wishes to put Nigerians on notice that two major religious festivities (Salah and Christmas) are approaching and we shall be experiencing increased passenger traffic in and out of the country.

“Similarly, events of large gatherings are likely to hold. While the PSC prepares to escalate surveillance and other control activities, we urge States and all Nigerians to also increase their vigilance and take measure to moderate activities,” he added

“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.

‘’The combined total for testing by PCR and RDT now stands at about 3, 141, 795.

Mustapha, however, said the decision to remove South Africa, Turkey and Brazil from restriction list had been made.

The PSC had placed a restriction on Turkey, Brazil and South Africa due to the upsurge in the number of COVID-19 cases.

According to him, over several months, four countries were placed on high level restriction for travellers from such countries.

‘’The PSC has after a review of the developments in these countries, decided to remove South Africa, Turkey, and Brazil from the restricted list.

Mustapha said that ‘’the UK has eased restrictions on fully vaccinated travellers from Nigeria to the UK with effect from Oct. 11.