El Rufai - Lockdown, curfew in force

The Kaduna State Government has said the lockdown in the state is still in force.

In a statement issued by Governor Nasir el-Rufai ‘s Special Adviser on Media and Communication,  Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, the government said that the order would remain in force until Tuesday, June 9. The statement added, 

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai will address the state on Tuesday and will specify the next steps for the state; which sectors will be permitted to open and the safety guidelines that each sector is expected to comply with before reopening. No market, school or place of worship will reopen until the government makes the required proclamation.”

The government was reacting to a report that it had reviewed the state quarantine law.

Adekeye said El-Rufai would address the state on Tuesday during which the next step in the COVID-19 fight would be revealed.

"The world doesn't care about Nigeria" - El Rufai

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has said that when it comes to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Nigeria should learn to look after itself.

He made this known on Saturday, May 30, 2020, during his presentation at the first 'Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Colloquium.’ He said,

“We are on our own. The rest of the world doesn’t care. Nobody cares about Africa. The rest of the world is becoming increasingly nationalistic.”

The virtual conference was put together to commemorate Aregbesola’s 63rd birthday.

Aregbesola is Nigeria’s Interior Minister. He also served as governor of the South West state of Osun for eight years.

El-Rufai who recovered from coronavirus on April 22, added that it’s time for Nigeria to begin fixing its deplorable healthcare system and equip its decrepit hospitals.

“As a state government, we are even trying to get test kits for COVID-19 because America and Europe are buying up everything. Nobody cares about Africa. They only think of us when they want to test vaccines or when something dangerous is to be tried.

So, we must be more nationalistic and try to develop our internal capacity to produce and be self-sufficient. This was what Osun State under Rauf Aregbesola has tried to do and I think this is a lesson for all of us," he said.

"Consider yourself sacked" - El Rufai to striking health workers

Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai has warned health workers in the state on strike against industrial action. He made it clear that any worker who fails to report for duty should consider himself/herself sacked.

The threat came after the seven-day strike called by the health workers in the state for the deductions carried out by the government on their salaries.

However, El Rufai vowed to keep the health facilities running and to protect staff members willing to provide services to the public. In his official response to the notice of strike issued by the health workers, said that he would not succumb to blackmail.

A statement signed his by Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, warned:

“Government rejects the strike threat and will regard persons who fail to show up at their assigned places of work as having forfeited their employment. Every health worker that is willing to work is required to sign the register at the Ministry of Health and the health institutions to which they are deployed.”