EFCC enforces Covid-19 vaccination compliance by staff

Glory Ebomah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), today Monday, December 13, 2021, commenced the enforcement of Covid-19 vaccination compliance by the staff of the agency in its offices across the country. In Abuja, staff of the Commission’s head office in Jabi were screened by management staff led by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr George Ekpungu, with officers who were yet to be vaccinated being made to write their names in a special register. Duly vaccinated staff also put down their names and were admitted into the sprawling facility.

The exercise which commenced as early as 6.30 am caught many employees unaware with some having to return home to fetch their vaccine cards.

Speaking on the essence of the exercise, Ekpungu said it was necessary as the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa had given the directive for the enforcement to ensure all staff are vaccinated. “We have been enforcing Covid-19 vaccination within the Commission and we thought that we can never really know who and who has taken 1,2, or 3 of the jabs until we do a check, and the Omicron variant is increasing, so we thought of doing on the spot check to assess who is vaccinated and who is not,” he said.

He explained that as the leading anti-corruption agency, the Commission is obligated to also take the lead in the enforcement compliance with government directives on the Covid-19 vaccination. “You will agree with me that the cases of COVID-19 are on the increase worldwide and we must be on the lookout to ensure that our staff is safe.

“We have been sensitizing staff internally but felt the need to make it public to encourage others to copy from us,’’ he said.

He said the management will determine measures to take against those who refused to be vaccinated but assured that there are enough vaccines in the Commission’s clinic for those who are interested.

A similar exercise took place simultaneously across the Commission’s 14 Zonal Commands.