Coalition Calls On 35 Senators To Test For COVID - 19

The Civil society Coalition Against COVID- 19 (CISCAC) has called on the 35 members of the Senate, specifically, members of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream that attended a three day International Training Programme organized by the Skills and Career Support Centre, London between the 13th and 15th of March, 2020 to go for Corona Virus test.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday in Abuja, the convener of the Civil society Coalition Against COVID-19 of Dr. Nwambu Gabriel and his Secretary, Mallam Ali Danjuma said FCT administration emulate Lagos state Government by been specific with the enlightenment of Abuja residents on the areas where persons who have tested positive to this virus are treated.

Excerpt is the full text of the press briefing:

The COVID- 19 popularly referred to as Corona Virus was detected in Wuhan, China and was first reported to the World Health Organization office in China on 31st December 2019. This endemic of our time within the last 3 months has ravaged Italy, U.S., Spain, the U.K., India, etc. There is virtually no part of the world without this virus.

Now, 35 members of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria specifically speaking, members of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream attended a three (3) day International Training Programme organized by the Skills and Career Support Centre, London between the 13th and 15th of March, 2020.

These 35 Senators even with the possibility of being infected with the dreaded Covid- 19, found their way into the Senate chambers and continued plenary, thereby exposing other Senators to chances of contacting the epidemic. As at the time of this briefing, these 35 Senators as public servants have not undergone any form of test whatsoever to ascertain their health status but rather have continued to endanger the residents of the FCT and indeed all Nigerian citizens.

Again, the government of Lagos state has been specific with the enlightenment of Lagosians on the areas where persons who have tested positive to this virus are treated but the FCT administration has remained mute on this important information. This information essentially is to guide the residents subject to their vulnerability to this virus..

Although, both private and organized private sectors have been donating to the Federal Government to the tune of over 14 Billion Naira. The administrative bottle-necks associated with government bureaucracy makes us skeptical in terms of reaching the target individuals or channeled to optimum utility.

Consequent to the above germane facts here enunciated, we as Civil Society Coalition Against Covid- 19, herby demand the following-

1. That the 35 Senators who travelled to London be made to test for COVID- 19 and such test should be made public within 5 days of this publication as public servants they are. We might be compelled to mention the names of these Senators at the expiration of the above mentioned time limit.

2. That the FCT administration should avail the residents of the FCT and Nigerians the information of areas where positive Covid- 19 patients are treated.

3. That for effective accountability and transparency, it is imperative that the Federal Government integrates members of the Civil Society in the management of the over 14 Billion donation and other funds designated for the eradication of COVID- 19.