By Tola Gbadamosi

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Federal workers in Ondo State yesterday defied federal government’s order of no COVID-19 vaccine card no entry.
The workers were seen in their large numbers at the federal Secretariat, Igbatoro Road, Akure loitering and discussing when our correspondent visited the secretariat.
The main entrance of the complex was left wide opened with nobody screening those coming and entering the secretariat
The federal Secretariat in Abuja was on Wednesday shut against workers who could not produce evidence of COVID-19 jab
The federal government had issued a deadline of end of November for workers to get vaccines of be prevented from entering their offices
Though, some workers who spoke with The Hope claimed they were screened when they were entering the complex earlier, but none of them observed the COVID-19 protocols as laid down by the NCDC as The Hope reporter was not screened while entering the complex
Large numbers of federal workers from their various Parastatals were seen engaging in screening exercise without wearing the required nosemask yesterday
Some of the Federal civil servants were standing outside the main entrance of the complex without nose marks as directed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA.
Speaking with The Hope on compliance with the directive given by the Federal Government, a staff of NAFDAC who was seen at the ground floor of the Secretariat, Mrs Adewole Shittu said most of the staff have taken the vaccine not just only to comply with Federal Government’s directive, but to safeguard their health.
Shittu said: “Despite the non usage of face masks, workers have tendered their Covid-19 cards earlier at the entrance of the building before they were allowed into the premises on resumption.
“Most of our staff have been vaccinated and many are still struggling to get vaccinated as we speak. We are also encouraging those who are scared about it to go for the exercise, saying it is safe.
A staff of the National Orientation Agency, NOA who did not want his name mentioned, said there is need to embark on massive public enlightenment to allay fears of Nigerians about the vaccine, adding that government should add more fund to encourage the agency to do the needful in terms of awareness campaign.
A security man at the Ministry who was not wearing his face mask attributed it to the fact that most staff have been vaccinated.
He said most of the workers failed to come with their cards today to prove they have received their first or second jabs.
“This is because we have visitors from other federal parastatals who were allowed entry for a screening exercise.
With the level of crowd at the point of verification, it was observed that there was no compliance on the wearing of nose masks.
Our correspondent also visited The Federal High court at Alagbaka in Akure where Covid-19 compliance was not enforced in any form.
Generally, the atmosphere was calm, as few people were seen without wearing nose masks as no one stopped our correspondence for not putting on a nose mask either.