Ubani challenged a directive by the SGF for civil servants to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, saying it violated their rights to life, dignity and privacy
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has denied giving directives for civil servants to get COVID-19 vaccination or risk losing their jobs.
Recall that in October 2012, Boss Mustapha said workers who fail to get vaccinated will be barred from entering their places of work.
The presidential directive was immediately challenged in a suit filed at the Federal High Court Lagos by NBA SPIDEL chairman, Dr Monday Onyekachi Ubani in suit No. FHC/L/CS/1951/2021.
In the suit, Ubani averred that the directive for civil servants in Nigeria to show proof of vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR amount to a violation of their constitutional rights to life, dignity and privacy, as well as their right to freedom from discrimination, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as guaranteed by sections 34, 37 and 38 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and Sections 2, 4 and 8 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 1990.
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But a counter-affidavit filed by the SGF, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (now Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19), said the federal government had no plan of embarking on compulsory vaccination of all civil servants.
He said in the affidavit: “That the Federal Government did not and does not plan to embark on compulsory vaccination as contemplated throughout the Plaintiff’s affidavit but more specifically in paragraphs 8,9,10,11 as the Federal Government was deliberate in providing two alternatives for Civil Servants to choose from, to wit, “proof of COVID-19 vaccination” or “present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours.”
The suit which is pending before Hon. Justice I. N. Oweibo of the Federal High Court was adjourned to the 19th day of October for further hearing.
