Senate Urges Present Administration To Purchase COVID-19 Vaccine

The Muhammadu Buhari led administration has been urged by the Senate to release necessary funds required for the purchase and administration of COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

The Senate made their intentions known during Thursday’s seating by directing the Committees on Health and Primary Health Care to invite the Ministry of Health and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

The Lawmakers also stated that they are also expected to present the plan for approval, protocol, funding, procurement, administration and monitoring of the vaccine.

The motion which was tagged “Urgent need for Nigeria to obtain and administer COVID-19 vaccine to its citizens to be able to prevent the pandemic” follow resolutions reached by the Lawmakers after a point of order raised by Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe–the Chairman, Committee on Health.

Oloriegbe explained that the Senate is concerned about the passive approach taken to curb the infection and backed their demands citing Orders 42 and 52 of the law books.

“The Senate is worried that the level of compliance to the measures has been diminishing. It is also worried that the level of testing, detection and isolation of confirmed cases have also been reducing in the country.”

The Lawmaker also highlighted on the approval and successful administration of COVID-19 in other countries whilst sounding the probable repercussions that may follow if vaccines are not administered.

President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan also urged the present administration to provide the necessary funds for the procurement of the vaccine.

“If we are not able to do that in the 2021 appropriation, then we have to prepare for a supplementary appropriation because this is a matter of life and death”, Lawan stated.