COVID-19: TUC Disagrees With NMA Over Partial Lockdown

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The Trade Union Congress has thrown its weight behind the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), over the easing of lockdown in Lagos, Ogun, and the Federal Capital Territory, saying the economy cannot remain closed for too long.

The Nigerian Medical Association had on Friday said the easing of the lockdown was “premature” as it could lead to further spread of coronavirus.

But in an interview with our correspondent, the TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, said evidence has shown that the Federal Government lacked the capacity to provide palliatives for the needy in the country and needed to fashion a way of reopening the economy in phases.

He said, “I read the NMA reaction to the relaxation of the lockdown by the President.

“TUC reaction is that since evidence has shown clearly that the Federal Government does not have the full capacity to provide the needed palliative to all those that need it, (hence, the) government had to come up with a strategy to ease the lockdown by coming out with a guideline and roaster on how the economy should be run at a time like this.

“The FG did the right thing by reopening the economy in phases.

“Manufacturers of essential products, restaurants, and other essential sectors of the economy have been given guidelines on how to restart their operations, while curfew has been declared at night.

“All interstate movement except essential ones are closed for now. The truth is that we cannot lick the economy for too long.

“The danger of hunger is more dangerous than COVID-19. A hungry man is potentially an angry man. Continuing with total lockdown can lead to insecurity.

“At this period, we just need to strike a balance between the health implication and reopening the economy in phases. We also have to take care of insecurity. People must earn a living to meet the needs of their family which the government has shown that it cannot offer for a long time.

“Let us try this for now and see what other measures we need to put in place after this first phase.”