Edo begins enforcement of ‘no vaccination, no entry’ rule in government offices

The Edo state government has begun the enforcement of the ‘no vaccination card, no access’ rule.

On Tuesday, the state government had said it will start restricting entry into government offices for unvaccinated civil servants.

It said the move is the first phase of its enforcement of restriction on large public gatherings for persons without evidence of COVID-19 vaccination.

According to NAN, workers without vaccination cards were not allowed to enter the state secretariat and government house on Wednesday, as police constabularies were drafted to enforce the policy.

John Osagioduwa, a civil servant, said he was not aware of the directive, adding that the government should have issued circulars to the effect.

Osagioduwa said although he was vaccinated, he didn’t come with the vaccination card and had to go home and return to work on Thursday.

Crusoe Osagie, a former special adviser on media and communication strategy to Godwin Obaseki, the state governor, said he forgot his vaccination card.

“The governor’s directives have taken effect from today, and I am just coming to the office but forgot my vaccination card. I have been refused entry because I forgot my card at home,” he said.

“I am going home to get my card to access government house.

“The enforcement and restrictions has started with government offices and institutions today.

“And if workers go back home to get their cards and come back to work late or not at all, I am sure there will be concession for them by their directors.

“It’s not compulsory to be vaccinated, but they need the vaccination card to access government offices.”

Commenting on the exercise, Yusuf Haruna, head of the COVID-19 enforcement team in Edo, said the ‘no vaccination card, no access’ rule shows the state government’s commitment to the protection of lives.

So far, Edo state has recorded at least 1,034 cases and 53 fatalities in the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.