The federal government has ordered all civil servants on Grade Level 12 and below, who have been working from home as part of measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 to resume duties on December 1, 2021.
The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi- Esan gave the directive in a circular HCSF/ 3065/ Vol. 1/ 107 dated 26th November 2021.
Yemi Esan in the circular, which was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff the President, Office of the Vice-President, Ministers/ Ministers of State, Permanent Secretaries, National Security Advisers, Chairman Code of Conduct Bureau and Federal Civil Service Commission among others, said the directive followed the advice of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 that this category of officers were expected to resume duties on December 1, 2021.
She noted that in line with the recommendation of PSC, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the vaccine mandate policy whereby all government employees were required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours.
She advised all public officers who are yet to be vaccinated to visit the following centres in Abuja: Federal Staff Clinic, Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase I, Federal Staff Clinic, Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase ll, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Clinic, Mabushi, Federal Ministry of Finance Staff Clinic and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Staff Clinic and other centres nationwide that can be found on the website of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
She enjoined all permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to bring the contents of the circulars to the attention of their staff as well as ensure strict compliance.
It will be recalled that civil servants from GL 12 and below have since March 2020 been directed to stay at home until further notice to streamline the number of workers who come to work daily as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the virus.