The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has decried the poor level of compliance to the laid-down directives and measures against the coronavirus pandemic, by federal workers and civil servants across the country.
In a circular dated July 2, 2020, exclusively obtained by Igbere TV and personally signed by Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), she accused government workers and political appointees of flouting the existing orders against COVID-19.
The circular was addressed to Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Honourable Ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries, Service Chiefs/Inspector General of Police, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria and Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission.
Others were Chairman, Police Service Commission; Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau; Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal; Chairman, Federal Character Commission; Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation & Fiscal Commission; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission; Chairman Economic and Financial Crime Commission and Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission.
Also included were Chairman, Federal inland Revenue Service; Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; Clerk of the National Assembly, Secretary, National Judicial Council; Accountant-General of the Federation, Auditor General for the Federation, Surveyor-General of the Federation, Chief Registrar, Supreme Court of Nigeria and Directors General and Chief Executive Officers Parastatals/Agencies.
In the circular obtained by Igbere TV entitled, “Need for strict compliance with the directives and advice on the Covid-19 pandemic preventive measures”, the HoSF reminded the offices of similar existing circulars dated March 23 and April 30, 2020 where she had called on the officers to ensure full compliance with the directives and advice on the prevention of COVID-19.
Dr. Yemi-Esan also advised heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to limit the number of visitors they receive to the barest minimum and ensure that the visitors complied with safety and health advice/directives against COVID-19.
She reiterated the previous directive by the federal government that only officers from Grade Level 14 and above, including those on essential services, are to report to duty on daily basis while the rest officers continue to work from home.
The statement partly reads, “The attention of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation has been drawn to the fact that these guidelines are not being complied with specifically, it has been noticed that the flow of both the staff and visitors to offices is very high which, sadly, indicates that the directives in the circuits in reference are being observed in breach.
“It has, therefore, become very important to reiterate that:
a) only officers on GL 14 and above and officers performing essential services, are to report for duty;
b) as much as possible, other categories of officers should be encouraged to work from home;
c) Security operatives at the gates should be directed to demand for the identity card of staff coming to the office to ensure that they are on GL 14 and above, while the list of those performing essential services but are below level GL14 should be sent to the gates for clearance;
d) Officers are strongly advised to limit to the barest minimum the number of visitors they receive.”
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, therefore, called on Permanent Secretaries/Chief Executive Officers to reduce the number of physical meetings in the MDAs to the barest minimum and hold virtual meetings.
“Furthermore, to streamline the conduct of virtual meetings, the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation is working with the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to come up with policy guideline which will be issued soon,” she added.
Yemi-Esan enjoined Permanent Secretaries/Chief Executive Officers to personally ensure that their staff comply strictly with the directives in the circular, the earlier ones and any other directive/guideline/advice that may be given by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
