Inec, Immigration Service, Court Houses To Suspend Activities.
Lots of government parastatals are beginning to suspend work activities due to the increasing rate of Coronavirus outbreak in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Immigration Service, has announced the temporary suspension of passports and migrants registration due to the viral disease. This was made known in a press release issued by the Comptroller General of the service, Muhammad Babandede on Monday.
The suspension, takes effect from Monday, March 23 to Tue April 23, 2020. As stated in the press release, this action is in line with the government’s directives.
The Covid-19 outbreak, as also made the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend all its activities. This was disclosed by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voters Education Commission, Mr Festus Okoye. He said the move, was due to the Covid-19 outbreak and the Preventive/Containment measures directed by the Federal Government. This is also in adherence of Social distancing by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria Center For Disease Control (NCDC).
Mr Okoye, further added that the commission has taken extra measures to protect its staff, visitors and the general public. Some of the measures taken includes –
“Effective from Tuesday March 24, all regular and non-essential activities in its headquarters and offices nationwide will be suspended for two weeks”.
“Regular quaterly meetings with Stakeholders, such as Political parties, Civil Society Organisations, Media, Security Agencies and all other meetings, are suspended until normalcy returns”.
“In addition, the commission will no longer monitor the conventions, Congresses, conferences or meetings of Political parties until further notice”.
The commissioner, restated thee commission’s dedication to openess, consultation and continued communication with its Stakeholders. He expects all to understand the emergency situation that brings about the suspension of contact engagements.
However, the new measures taken does not affect the Edo/Ondo governorship elections scheduled for September 19 and Oct 10 2020. The commission will continue to meet via non-physical contact channels. Communication between the commission and it’s Stakeholders will remain open.
In a related development, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has ordered the closure of all courts in the country. Justice Tanko, gave the directive on Monday, as part of measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.
The Chief Justice, ordered the suspension of all court sittings. Although, exceptions are in matters that are urgent, essential or time bound.
In an earlier directive last week, the CJN ordered that everyone should undergo temperature screening at the court entrance. Anyone who refuses to undergo the screening should be sent back.
Nigeria, recorded it’s first death from the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak on Mon, March 23. Nigeria, now has a total of 40 confirmed Coronavirus cases including one death.
