Nigeria's labour ministry directs all federal civil servants to take mandatory coronavirus test

NIGERIA'S federal government has directed all civil servants in the country to undergo a compulsory coronavirus test to ensure they are free of the virus and will not endanger the lives of their colleagues at work.

Over recent weeks, normality has gradually returned to Nigeria, with work resuming, domestic flights being allowed, markets re-opening and some states allowing religious worship. To combat the possible threat of infections spiralling out of control, Evelyn Ngige, the permanent secretary and service welfare officer in the ministry of labour and employment, sent out a memo to all ministries on the matter.

In it, she told them to ensure that all staff took a mandatory test and anyone who tested positive should be sent to the Abuja Dome isolation centre. Nigeria has been spared the worst of the virus, suffering only 38,948 cases of which there have been 833 fatalities but with numbers still rising, the government is taking precautions.

Ms Ngige's circular read: “I am directed to inform you that the federal government has provided facilities for the conduct of Covid-19 tests for civil servants at the Thisday Dome, Mohammed Kur Avenue, by Nanet Suites, Central Business District, Abuja from 10 am to 4pm daily, as part of efforts to curtail the spread of the disease. Accordingly, you are required to notify all staff of the availability of the testing facility, to enable members of staff who experience Covid-19 related symptoms and those wishing to get tested in your ministries, departments and agencies to take advantage of this opportunity.

“The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has also updated the Guidelines on the Control of Coronavirus Disease Service-Wide to address emerging issues in the control of the disease in the work environment. These guidelines can be accessed on the website of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation at www.ohcsf.gov.ng.

“All permanent secretaries are requested to kindly bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all staff and ensure that all parastatals and agencies under their supervision are notified.”