Prof. Oyewale Tomori, a former vice-chancellor of the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun, has described the decision by the federal government to make the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for federal government workers as well-thought-out.
Tomori, who is a virologist, who lauded the federal government in an interview said, the plan could not have come at a better time.
The federal government said that all its workers will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination with effect from Dec. 1.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Chairman Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha announced the new policy decision on Wednesday at the PSC briefing.
“I am in support because the workers also have a choice to present either the vaccination card or laboratory result.
“Since the laboratory results have only 72 hours validity, it will be at the expense of the worker. It makes more sense to get the vaccine,” he added.
He stressed that a system must be put in place to ensure that the vaccination cards were genuine and laboratory results were not fake.
“My only worry is, for those who have business with government offices, but do not have access to vaccines.
”Nigeria with a population of 200 million has less than two per cent of people fully vaccinated, this means that we are far behind other nations with similarly large populations in terms of the number of vaccinated people,” Tomori said.
With effect from December 1, federal government employees are 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.
The SGF said an appropriate service-wide advisory/circular will be issued to guide the process.
