COVID-19: FCTA To Prevent Unvaccinated Staff, Visitors From Offices

By Sadiq Abubakar, Abuja.

As part of efforts aimed at curtailing the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned that all unvaccinated staff would be barred from accessing FCTA premises with effect from Monday, 17th January 2022.

The warning was contained in a circular signed by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, which was issued to newsmen by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on media and publicity to the FCT minister, Abubakar Sani, on Monday, in Abuja.

The circular was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) all Mandate Secretaries, Coordinators of AMMC, STDD as well as Heads of all Departments and FCTA Agencies.

Mr. Olusade, said the circular was in line with the one issued earlier by the federal government allowing staff on grade level 12 and below to resume duty.

The circular with reference N0. HCSF/3065/Vol.1/107 dated 26th November 2021 also directed that all employees are required to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination or present a negative Covid -19 PCR test result done within 72 hours continuously as part of measures to curtail the spread of the virus.

The circular reads in part: “All members of staff are therefore required to show evidence of Covid-19 Vaccination or present a negative Covid -19 PCR test result done within 72 hours, failure of which such members of staff will not be allowed to the office premises commencing from Monday, 17th January 2022”.

He added that because FCTA premises are public buildings, all visitors and clients coming to do business are required to comply with the directive.

The Permanent Secretary also said free vaccination points have been made available in all FCTA premises by the Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) to provide opportunities for staff and visitors alike to get vaccinated.

He, however, warned that persistent non-compliance or refusal by staff to be vaccinated would be treated by the relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR).

The permanent secretary, however, explained that to ensure strict compliance with the circular, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement in collaboration with the Director of Security Services has been mandated to mount surveillance in all entry points to prevent violators from gaining access to offices of the FCTA from Monday, next week.