Compulsory COVID-19 vaccination, illegal — NBA Official, Ubani
…Moves to sue Nigerian Govt

Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), Barr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani has disclosed his resolve to drag the Government of President Mohammadu Buhari to court over the imposition of Covid-19 vaccination.

Ubani who frowned at the order of the federal government which mandated every civil servant to get vaccinated, stresses that they order violated existing labour terms and the fundamental rights of the civil servants to their privacy, life, movement, religious belief and faith, and liberty.

The NBA official said any directive on compulsory vaccination is immature, needless, unacceptable and should be totally rejected.

It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha had made the announcement at a briefing last week.

Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, insisted that civil servants must show proof of vaccination or present a negative PCR test from December 1.

He argued that the denial of access to office would be a clear disregard for the contractual terms of employment.

However, Ubani warned the government that restricting movement run fowl of the 1999 constitution as amended, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

“When these civil servants were employed, compulsory vaccinations and its attendant punishment for non compliance were not part of their terms of contract.

“This new policy is a rude interruption to cordial labour relationship and is against international best labour practices.

“The Federal Government is hereby put on notice that any intention to pursue this illegal policy will be met with stiff legal challenge,” he said.

The lawyer said since the government failed to convince the citizens on the safety of vaccination against coronavirus, it must not pursue a forceful policy.

“They should rather utilise persuasive methodology to get citizens convinced of the benefits of the said vaccinations,” he added.

Ubani added that what should be made mandatory in Nigeria are free education, free healthcare and other social welfare policies