Nigerian banks have issued directives requiring employees to vaccinate themselves against COVID19
In the recent circular going on, six financial institutions have ordered their employees to be vaccinated or have a COVID-19 test every two weeks at their own expense.
Last week, the federal government instructed civil servants to be vaccinated against COVID19. Chairman Mustapha, secretary of the federation government (SGF), said unvaccinated workers would be barred from entering their workplaces from December 1, 2021.
Mustapha is also President of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID19. “You have to get a COVID19 test every two weeks and present it at their local office or location,” reads one of the circulars. Staff from Polaris, Access, Zenith, Union, Eco and GT banks confirmed the latest developments on Thursday.
They confirmed that they were given two options; get the COVID vaccine or have a negative coronavirus test result every two weeks.
“These are the options. If you don’t take the vaccine, you have to show the test results every two weeks,” said Access bank staff. “Without this, they said that a staff would not be able to enter the banking room.
“ Another Polaris bank staffer said the option seemed lenient but implied mandatory vaccination against COVID19.
“It’s annoying that they have to send us a warrant. What is our salary that someone will take a COVID test every two weeks? The COVID test costs around N50,000,” he said.
Two Ecobank bankers also confirmed the development, but declined to discuss the matter further. CBN spokeswoman Osita Nwanisobi did not respond to a request for comment on the bank’s mandatory adoption of the COVID19 vaccine.
Since February 2020, Nigeria has recorded more than 200,000 cases and nearly 3,000 deaths in 36 states and the federal capital region.
While the federal government has enforced vaccination for workers, state governments are also planning to make it mandatory. With this, many banks and business entities can provide direction to their workers on measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
