The Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a
coalition of over 70 labour and civil society organisations (CSOs), has blamed
governments at all levels for the spike in coronavirus cases in the country.
So far, Nigeria has recorded a total number of 8,915
COVID-19 cases, and while 2,592 patients have been discharged, 259 have died.
In a statement on Friday, the coalition led by Femi Falana,
a human rights lawyer, said the disease may affect sustainable development in
the country.
It said this week’s press briefing by the presidential task
force on COVID-19 suggested that “the battle against COVID-19 was not making
the expected speedy progress.”
The coalition listed ignoring early warning signals, lack of
proactive national strategic plan, unwillingness to cut waste and lack of
inclusion of critical stakeholders in the campaign against the disease, as some
of the reasons why the country has recorded almost 9,000 cases.
“Federal and state governments appear to be more interested
in the politics of the pandemic than a critical understanding of the pandemic
for a holistic solution,” the statement issued Adewale Adeoye, ASCAB spokesman,
read.
“As of today the federal and state governments have come up
with programmes that exist more on paper than in reality all of which have
failed to allay the fears and aspirations of millions of Nigerians.
“We question the capacity of the government to deal
decisively with the COVID-19 spread because of so many policy somersaults, an
indication of confusion and lack of capacity on the part of the government.
“The rise from less than 100 to four digits gives room for
deep concern. It raises fundamental questions about the future of public health
and livelihood of Nigerians which on the long run will be grievously affected
by COVID-19.”
While citing section 14 (2) (b) of the constitution which
provides that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary
purpose of government”, the coalition said many COVID-19 patients who needed
emergency care were denied treatment in public hospitals.
It said Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, has breached
section 10 (1) and (2) of the National Health Act 2014 which provides that no
health care worker should deny a patient who needs emergency care.
The ASCAB added that the constitution anticipated a pandemic
like COVID-19 but the failure by the government to prevent the spread of the
disease and save Nigerians “remains a brutal violation of the constitution.”
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