The Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde has said that the opening of government secretariat to business despite coronavirus pandemic was premised on striking a balance between the physical health and economic health of the state.
Makinde disclosed this while fielding questions at a programme tagged’ Where Things Stand’,which was anchored by Mayor Isaac Brown of Fresh FM, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
He said that the opening of government secretariat to business became important and necessary so as to strike an objective equilibrium between the physical and economic health of the state.
Makinde said that the total population of the work force of the secretariat was about fifteen thousands, stressing that only the cadres of level13 and above who are about three thousand in numbers were asked to resume work.
On precaution to spread covid-19, Makinde said that the workers asked to resume would be in their separate offices, holding meetings online while visitors would be restricted, adding that some staffs of high cadres needed to be on duty so as to keep the secretariat operational.
On effectiveness and efficiency of tasks discharged so far, he appreciated the state’s vivid-19 team and medical experts for their display of mastery and competence to contain and curtail the pandemic, adding that there shall be an adequate protection for the health workers who might be nursing phobia in tackling the pandemic.
Makinde said that the communication gap between the state government and University College Hospital had been addressed for effective containment and curtailment of the virus.
He said that the use of natural remedies could not be ruled out in containing the virus, adding that the remedies like honey, tumeric, ginger, black seeds and others he took during the period of his confirmed test for covid-19 would not be taken for granted.
On palliatives, he disclosed that the palliatives would be simultaneously distributed to all local governments in the state this week as farmers would also have the benefit of seeds and farming equipment.
He enjoined people to have firm compliance with partial lockdown, adding that any community found acting contrary to directives would be dealt with.
