…Lagos ready to kick-start economy
In its attempt to kickstart the state economy, which had been near comatose since the locked n of the state, ocassiined by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lagos State government has approved the opening of government offices effective Monday, May 4.
The aporivl by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was conveyed to the affected officers by the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Muri-Okunola, who said that all offices in the state Secretariat, Alausa, as well as other government establishments statewide, be opened for activities with effect from Monday, 4th May, 2020, added that the approval, as contained in a circular issued on Thursday 30th of April, 2020 with the Reference Number CIR/HOS/’20/Vol.1/046, follows an earlier directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari on the gradual easing of existing lockdown in Lagos State.
The HoS said, “It is worthy of note that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday evening, 29th April, 2020, issued some specific directives to public servants in the state on modalities for resumption after some weeks of the total lockdown of activities across the state.”
Muri-Okunola asserted that the reopening of the state secretariat “would be subject, not only to the conditions earlier specified prior to the announcement of the lockdown, vide Circulars Ref. Nos.: CIR/ HOS/ ’20/Vol.1 / 031, 037 and 039 of 3rd, 20th and 22nd March, 2020 respectively, on measures to contain the pandemic, but also on some new protocols as well.”
The circular stated that some of the new protocols include: officers on Grade Levels 12 and below must continue working from home, unless otherwise directed by their Accounting Officers, with the exception of Frontline Responders and other essential Health Workers, irrespective of Grade, as well as Enforcement Agencies.
Urging Accounting Officers to carry out a Needs Assessment of critical staff, identify essential officers and draw up a Flexible Work Roster for officers on Grade Levels 13 and above, in compliance with the Physical Distancing Principle as stated by the World Health Organisation; Muri-Okunola reiterated that sanitisers, as well as washable and reusable facemasks, must be distributed to officers who are required to wear them in the office and all public spaces, while hand gloves and protective gears should be provided for cleaners; stressing that non-usage of the items will attract strict penalties
Additionally, the HoS instructed all Directors of Administration and Human Resource to ensure that the entire office environment is disinfected and kept clean always.
He advised officers in need of medical assistance to do so via consultation through telephone or online in order to minimise and eliminate visits to the Staff Clinic and Hospitals, even as he implored all sick persons to stay away from the office.
He maintained that all public servants must abide by the 8 p.m to 6 a.m curfew pronounced by Mr. Governor, pointing out that the 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.
Muri-Okunola also encouraged Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to ensure adequate personal hygiene by providing liquid soap with running water at all entrances and in toilets for regular and thorough washing of hands.
