Re-defining essential services

By  Bayo Fasuwon
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Nigeria is a country of mirth. The Federal Government had earlier announced the continuation of the lockdown of selected states, to the disapproval of Nigerians. Many citizens had hyped that the lockdown had heralded a worse and more fatal one called hunger virus. The social media had been uncharitable towards the government for this stance.

President Muhammadu Buhari had reasoned with the people who elected him to represent their interest and had reviewed the lockdown, replacing it with a curfew, and Nigerians are angry that the lockdown is being lifted despite the upsurge in the COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, living the government helpless at the actual desire of the citizens.

Although the curfew comes with stringent conditions, one doubts if the citizens would fully comply with the directives of safety and wellness. It is therefore my candid opinion that one expects, with more contacts and more tests carried out, the COVID-19 cases would witness an astronomical increase in the weeks to come. When that happens, then a total lockdown will be non-negotiable. That stage is my concern.

The first leg of the lockdown had witnessed misunderstandings between the people and security operatives. Health workers have been harassed, market women beaten and several others subjected to inhuman treatment. From the point of view of security operatives, they had carried out orders (possibly with the India caning perspective) to the letter. However, some men of the Nigeria Police had lost their cherished jobs, and are facing charges of assault, battery and torture for enforcing law without a human face.

Justice however would not in any way remove the scars of unwholesome whips, or death suffered from overzealous enforcers. The problem however is traceable to the understanding of ‘essential services’.  A service is perceived essential when a neglect of such would undermine human existence and development. Within this definition, every worker falls within the categorization of essential service provider. The difference however is that certain service providers have been categorized as being so crucial that such could not be allowed to embark on strike, although they sometimes do. In this category, security providers, health, research, and safety workers. However, circumstances determine to a large extent the essential services needed per time.

From my perspective, many states have wasted the first phase of the pandemic. Many have sat; arms folded searching for cases of infection without seeking for services that could be effortlessly delivered during the lockdown. In order to understand the foundation of my submission, one needs to understand the opportunities provided by the lockdown. In the first instance, human and traffic congestion, have been grossly reduced; waste generation and noise pollution have dwindled and surveillance has been made easy. Therefore, blocked drainages and water ways are definable; potholes that cause gridlock can be identified, the quietness promotes critical thinking and weak infrastructures are easily located.

All levels of government must concentrate on maintenance and preventive services in the lockdown periods.  While most workers are in a lockdown, the local governments ought to engage their staff and possibly direct labour in the clearing of drainages which had hitherto being filled with debris, thus causing flooding. Given that the rains have commenced, the clearing of such drainages at this time would not only control flooding, but would also ensure that other water borne diseases do not exacerbate the already existing health challenges in the nation. In addition to this, it is sad to note that piles of refuse that had existed before the lockdown still persist in certain communities. It is instructive to note that these are also breeding grounds for health disasters. Therefore, all local governments must ensure that these are cleared in the lockdown period. It should be the aim of government that the nation must emerge from lockdown into a healthy environment. In addition to these, this is the best time for governments to embark on road maintenance and repairs. The gaping holes and potholes that cause accidents and gridlocks can be identified and easily repaired at a time like this. There may not be an auspice time provided by nature to carry out this life saving activity. Chemicals could also be used extensively to kill stubborn weeds that make visibility impossible along our various roads. Weak bridges could be identified, repaired or quarantined so that when the streets get busy again, gridlocks would be reduced, and lives could be saved.

 In this light, all workers who would be involved in these activities are essentially involved in essential services. Those who would be involved in these activities would of course need to be tested, and certified healthy before clearance is given for them to mingle with others to carry out these assignments. A proactive government would create uniforms and identity cards for these categories of workers and intimate the law enforcement agencies in their areas, provide security for such and thus enable their effective performance.

All food providers (producers, distributors, and sellers) fall within the purview of essential workers. However, the planting season is here again. We are in the month of May, which implies that if farms are not cultivated now, food insecurity looms. Hunger would be a pandemic of worse implications after the COVID-19 invasion. Farmers are therefore part and parcel of the essential workers. Security operatives need to be educated that farmers should be allowed free access to their farms in order to feed the nation. The Police Force in particular must instruct the rank and file to accord respect and security to those who would be involved in the production of food for the populace. Most of these farmers would be found in the rural and semi rural areas of every state in Nigeria. Special consideration and support must be given to them to preserve our lives in the post COVID era.

Finally, one must make a special case for researchers as well as journalists,  who are involved in the search for the cure of viral disease, and those involved in other aspects of research that are related  to life preservation. Data gathering, observation, experimentation and analyses would certainly involve movements at this time. There are some specimens and observations that could be made at this time. If such is not done, then research becomes impossible.  Not all researches can be done ex post facto. To this end, with certain guidelines put in place, the tertiary institutions and research institutes at this time should be allowed to promote the engagement of their staff in researches that could reveal more insights, solutions and guidelines for future prevention of COVID-19 and related issues.