COVID-19: Starting January 17th, FCTA will ban unvaccinated employees and visitors

With effect from Monday, January 17, 2022, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned that all unvaccinated employees will be denied access to FCTA facilities.

This is part of an effort to keep the deadly COVID-19 virus from spreading in the nation’s capital.

On Monday, January 10, 2022, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, issued a circular containing this warning.
The circular was sent to the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), all mandate secretaries, AMMC and STDD coordinators, and all Department and FCTA agency heads.

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Mr. Olusade stated that the circular was in line with a previous Federal Government circular allowing employees in Grade Level 12 and below to return to work.

As part of the measures to curb the spread of the virus, all employees must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours on a continuous basis, according to the circular with reference No. HCSF/3065/Vol.1/107 dated November 26, 2021.

“All members of staff are therefore required to show evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours, failing which such members of staff will not be allowed to enter the office premises beginning Monday, January 17, 2022,” according to the circular.

It also stated that because FCTA facilities are public buildings, all visitors and clients who come to conduct business are required to follow this directive.

The Health and Human Services Secretar­iat (HHSS) had also made free vaccination points available in all FCTA premises, according to the permanent secretary, to provide an opportunity for staff and visitors to get vaccinated.

He did warn, however, that persistent noncompliance or refusal to be vaccinated by employees would be dealt with according to the Public Service Rules (PSR).

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Mr. Olusade explained that, in order to ensure strict compliance with this circular, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, in collaboration with the Director of Security Services, has been ordered to install surveillance at all entry points to prevent violators from gaining access to FCTA offices beginning next Monday.