COVID-19: SSASCGOC warns FG against mandatory vaccination

By OMON-JULIUS ONABU

Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) has expressed objection to plans by the federal government to implement a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and rigid regulations for all federal workers beginning from 1st December this year.

This was one of the resolutions contained in a communique at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association held in Asaba, the Delta State capital, presided over by its President-General, Muhammad A. Yunusa.

“The federal government had recently announced December 1st, 2021 as the deadline for Nigerian federal workers to be vaccinated or produce a negative test result every three days,” the SSASCGOC observed but noted that “those who took (the COVID-19 jabs) are still susceptible to the Coranavirus (COVID-19).

“NEC-in-session opined that it should not be made compulsory but to increase sensitisation for Nigerian workers to continue to observe most religiously preventive measures.”

In the 17-paragraph resolutions, the association expressed worry over the state of insecurity, generally deplorable condition of roads and the number of unemployed youths in the country, appealing to the federal government, states and all stakeholders to put aside their differences around certain national issues in order to forge a harmonious force towards addressing these challenges.

In the communique, signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi, the association expressed deep concern about the un-abating levels of insecurity and divisive agitations across the country as well as the astronomically high cost of living in the land.

The communique further said, “NEC-in-session frowns at the incessant threat to national unity by secessionist agitators, particularly the existing sit-at-home order of the IPOB (Indigenous Peoples of Biafra) members in the South-east, of the bandits in the North-west and Central and the Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-east. We wish to call on federal government and aggrieved Nigerians to imbibe the rule of law, tolerance and show respect to issues that affect the corporate existence of Nigeria as a nation.

“NEC-in-session is alarmed at the rising cost of living in the country that has made minced meat of the National Minimum Wage, which some states are yet to implement,” advising “the government to look for ways of improving the general welfare of the Nigerian workers and the entire citizens of the country through increased economic diversification, enhanced production (through resuscitation of moribund industries) and attraction of Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) into the country.”

In the light of the currently huge debt burden of the nation, the association also urged the federal government to stop the persistent external borrowings if the future of Nigeria will not irrevocably mortgaged.

“NEC-in-session vehemently detest the heavy government external borrowings (so as) to avoid mortgaging the future of Nigeria. We call on the government to look inward to harness the country’s national/natural endowments.”

The SSASCOG vowed to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria while pledging its readiness “to continually cooperate and work with all tiers of government and also the management of member agencies and organisations,” stressing that conducting a credible population census in the country would greatly enhance proper planning in Nigeria.(THISDAY)