October 25, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to persuade and convince, rather than force workers and the general populace to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
The NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, gave this charge during a briefing on COVID-19 vaccination advisory for federal civil servants in Abuja on Monday.
The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 had on October 13, 2021, announced that Federal Government workers without proof of COVID-19 vaccination or result of test done within 72 hours will be denied access to their offices starting from December 1, 2021.
However, the NLC president urged the government and other employers of labour to make special arrangements for workers to access the vaccine at the workplace.
“The biggest lesson of the pandemic is that amidst the worst crisis, the human race can rise to the challenge with great resourcefulness and resilience”
“Apart from accelerated scientific efforts at understanding the epidemiology of the virus, science has raised the bar a little higher with the breakthrough discovery of a vaccine for COVID-19 which has helped reduce the death rate and hospital admissions.
“A study conducted by the United States Centre for Disease Control at the end of May 2021 shows that there was about 63% drop in hospital visitations after the introduction of the COM-19 vaccine. There was also a 63% drop in hospital admissions post-vaccination and 66% drop in mortality for those aged 18 – 49 after the vaccination.
“Understand some people prefer to view COVID-19 vaccination with caution. Yes, it is important to proceed on issues of public health with great caution. Yet, it would be foolhardy to elevate caution above scientific evidence and facts from public health records.
“The truth is that despite being imperfect, the COVID-19 Vaccine has given all of us a better chance of fighting the virus and staying alive.
“I urge workers all over the world to take advantage of the COVID-19 vaccines and keep themselves, their families and their colleagues at work safe and free from the morbid threats of the corona pandemic.
“We urge government and other employers of labour to make special arrangements for workers to access the vaccine at the workplace.
“We urge that the tool of persuasion and conviction be used rather than force to get workers and the general populace to take the vaccine,” he said.
About the Author
