There is controversy rocking the decision of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 for the places of worship to re-open after the about three months of lockdown.
This is as a Church in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja alleged that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) is forcing Churches to pay N800,000 to a firm for the decontamination of public and private offices within the Area Council.
However, AMAC in a public notice said its directives were advisory and not compulsory while the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) denied that it is not aware of such directives.
AMAC in a letter by the Environmental Services Department, Covid-19 Task Unit Office to one of the Churches in Abuja obtained by BusinessDay said the Council has engaged the services of a Technical partner M/S HOLMES MULTIMEDIA SYNERGY LTD to carry out the fumigation at the sum of N800, 000.
“With reference to the Presidential directives to ease tockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capitol Territory (FCT) on Monday 4th May, 2020, it has become necessary and infact compulsory for all public and private offices within the Abuja Municipal Area Council to disinfect and decontaminate the premises before opening
“As a prelude to this, the Council has engaged the services of a Technical Partner, M/S HOMES MULTIMEDIA SYNERGY LTD that will urgently carry out the exercise at your own expense”, the letter read.
But in a counter notice signed by Yahaya Kana, Director of Administration for the Chairman Abdullahi Candido, said: “this is to inform the general public that the notification given by the Council for the decontamination of business premises as a way of preventing the spread of COVlD-19 is Advisory, not Mandatory.
“In view of this, owners of business premises have the unlimited liberty and leverage to either carryout the decontamination exercise or not. Nobody should be forced”.
Reacting to this, Bayo Olajedi, Special Assistance on Media and Communications to the CAN President said the umbrella body of Christ is not aware and said Church should report to its bloc.
“You will ask the Pastor who holds the letter if he has he reported to his own leaders? CAN has what is called five blocs if he reports to his leaders, it is the leaders that will report to CAN. I am not aware of it,” Olajedi said.
Source:Businessday.ng
