I believe this is not good — Lawan expresses disappointment with absence of both health ministers at COVID-19 summit

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has tackled the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire and Olorunimbe Mamora, who is the Minister of state for health, over their absence at a national summit on COVID-19 in Abuja, today December 6. 

Lawan in his speech at the event, expressed disappointment over non-attendance of a top official from the ministry after being told that ministry’s permanent secretary was also absent.

The Senate President who pointed out that the emergence of Omicron (a COVID-19 variant of concern) is an indication that the pandemic is not yet over, further averred that recent experience has also shown that outbreak of diseases affects not only the health sector but also the social and economic sector of the nation. 

He said; 

“Before I begin my remarks, is the permanent secretary ministry of health here? Well, I asked that question because the two ministers of health are not here.

“The minister of health, the minister of state, and the permanent secretary are not here. I believe this is not good.

“He (Ehanire) just left but somebody should have replaced him. Because everything we do here, the federal ministry of health is supposed to be here to garner all the resources that will come out of this.

“The PSC is simply an interventionist outfit. And as politicians and political leaders, we are supposed to be very serious and committed about the health of our people.

“The emergence of the Omicron variant of the virus points to the fact that the pandemic is yet to be over, hence, we should not rest our oars in fighting the pandemic.

“However, our recent experience has also shown that outbreak of diseases affects not only the health sector but also the social – economic sector of the nation. To this end, there is a need for a continuous multisectoral approach that integrates multiple work plans and collaboration to establish a sustainable bio security framework for Nigeria.

“?As we are working towards ending the pandemic and building back a better Nigeria, an all inclusive approach which focuses on addressing issues relating to the economy, health, housing, social security, infrastructure, etc. should be employed.”