Following the spread of the deadly Coronavirus across the globe, the Economic Community of West African States Parliament (ECOPARL) has directed its staff to work from their homes.
ECOPARL also directed all staff to continue to deliver on their assignments.
Besides, staff members are expected to continue to make themselves available and accessible by keeping their telephone lines open for communication through voice and WhatsApp.
They are however warned against traveling out of their duty station.
The measures which were contained in a press statement, according to the ECOWAS Parliament is to limit the chances of infection by and distribution of the virus.
The statement further stated that staff are expected to consult their emails as well as the various ECOPARL Staff Platforms for further information or instructions.
Nigeria which host ECOPARL has recorded 35 cases with one death as of Monday, 23rd March 2020. Globally, over 250,000 cases have been recorded across the globe with over 10,000 death. The first COVID-19 outbreak was recorded in Mainland China in December 2020.
The statement reads: “In line with the update issued yesterday by the President of the Commission on measures being taken by Ecowas to prevent and contain the spread of the Corona Virus Disease, and in particular, considering his directive to heads of institutions to strongly encourage staff to work from home, all staff members are hereby directed as follows.
“With effect from today, 23 March 2020, and until further notice, all staff are strongly encouraged to work from home.
“Directors, heads of divisions and supervisors are to continue to assign work to staff members, and all staff are expected to continue to deliver on their assignments.
“All staff members are therefore expected to continue to make themselves available and accessible by keeping their telephone lines open for communication through voice and whatsapp. Staff members should also consult their emails as well as the various ECOPARL staff platforms for further information or instructions.
“Staff members are also expected to continue to access ECOLINK and to attend to any work in their work flows.
“Please note that the purpose of these measures is to ensure that staff members stay at home to limit the chances of infection by, and distribution of, the virus. Staff members must therefore desist from travelling out of their duty station in the course of these measures. Please stay strictly at home.
“The security staff will remain at post. They will ensure that visitors are not admitted to the premises of the Parliament during these temporary measures.
“We urge all staff to continue to keep strict personal hygiene and remain calm until further notice. Regular updates on the evolving situation will be communicated from time to time.”
