By Chris Paul Otaigbe
As it enters the first day of its phased reopening of the State from the month-long lockdown, the Lagos State Government (LASG) has issued directives to guide resumption of workers in the State and asked workers resident in Ogun State to continue the work-from-home directive.
In a circular titled: Re: Partial Lifting of The Covid-19 Lockdown Revised Opening of All Ministries, Departments and Agencies State-Wide, signed by the State’s Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, LASG extended the Work-From-Home directive.
“Further to Circular 046 of 30th April, 2020, in which Officers on Grade Levels 13 to 17 were directed to resume based on a needs assessment roster prepared by Accounting Officers, it is hereby notified for general information that Mr. Governor has approved the extension of the Work-from-Home to Grade Level 13 & 14.” The circular stated.
The circular further stated that the re-opening of all Offices in the Secretariat, Alausa as well as other Government Establishments State-wide, will be with effect from Tuesday, 5th May, 2020.
Consequently, according to the directive, only officers in the Directorate Cadre, GL15 -17, are expected to resume on Tuesday, while the roster as earlier prepared, would be amended accordingly.
Additionally, Directors on the roster have also been directed to be rotated on a One-Week on, One or Two-Weeks Off basis. “All Officers on GL 01-14 are to continue to work from home unless otherwise directed by their Accounting Officers.” Stated the Circular.
However, the directive made it compulsory for all Frontline Responders and other essential Health Workers, irrespective of Grade Level, as well as Enforcement Agencies to continue to report for duty.
The State government emphasized that all Officers irrespective of Grade Level, whose official addresses are outside Lagos State are to be exempted from the roster, while insisting that Officers abide by the 8p.m to 6a.m curfew as pronounced by the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“Hence all Staff will work between 9.a.m – 3p.m; Officers are to uphold the principle of personal hygiene by regular washing of hands and maintain physical distancing.” Stated the Head of Service
According to the Circular, the State’s Secretariat and other Government establishments would remain shut to members of the Public and non-staff, who are advised to conduct their affairs through other channels such as telephone, emails and online platforms.
“Accordingly, all Heads of MDAs are enjoined to note the contents of this Circular for compliance and give it the Service-wide publicity it deserves.” The circular concluded.
Still the epicenter of the virus in the country with over 1,107 cases and 30 deaths, the directive by the Lagos State Government is also a demonstration by the nation’s economic capital to, first, protect its seat of government, in its determination to combat and defeat Covid-19.
As at May 4, 2020, over 2,558 Nigerians have been infected with the virus, while 87 have been lost to the pandemic.
