EFCC bars unvaccinated staff from office

On Monday, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission turned back unvaccinated staff members from its Jabi, Abuja headquarters, Top Naija reports.

Several workers and visitors without the COVID-19 vaccine cards were prevented from accessing the complex in compliance with the directive of the Presidential Steering Committee that unvaccinated federal workers would not be allowed into their offices from December 1.

Addressing journalists on the reason for the enforcement, the secretary of the commission, Mr George Ekpungu, said the exercise became necessary following the advent of the Omicron variant in the country.

He said the EFCC Chairman, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, had given the directive for the enforcement to ensure all staff were vaccinated.

Ekpungu said, “You will agree with me that the cases of COVID-19 are on the increase worldwide and we must be on the lookout in order to ensure that our staff are safe.

“We have been sensitising staff internally but felt the need to make it public to encourage others to copy from us.

“The chairman and management have promised to decide on measures to be taken about those who have refused to be vaccinated.

“The COVID-19 protocols were not instituted by the EFCC. They are international and national protocols. For those who said they will not take the vaccine, they will continue to stay locked out until they take a decision.”

He added that the commission had vaccines in its clinic for those who were interested.

On July 10, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the immediate suspension of Ibrahim Magu as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a statement issued by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

President Muhammadu Buhari also approved that the EFCC Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar Abba, should take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives. On 16th February 2021 Abdulrasheed Bawa was nominated as substantive chairman of EFCC by President Muhammad Buhari.