The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari to allow states to decide on the reopening of schools, businesses and worship centres shut since March as part of the efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The recommendation was among a raft of others, the PTF made to the president at a meeting yesterday at the State House ahead of his decision today on the next phase of action to take as the two-week extension of the easing of restrictions on socio-economic activities, which expires today.
The president had on May 18, extended the easing of the lockdown on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun States as well as extending the 8 pm-6 am curfew imposed nationwide, the ban on interstate movements and the lockdown of Kano State.
The meeting of the PTF with the President was a sequel to the expiration of the extension of the easing of the lockdown, which commenced on May 18, by the federal government.
Already, there is anxiety on the next line of action of the President and its economic implications as the representatives of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) have called on the federal and state governments to direct a total relaxation of the lockdown to avert looming retrenchment of workers.
But the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) called for an extension of the nationwide lockdown and stricter implementation of measures in place to curb community spread of COVID-19.
Speaking with State House reporters after the meeting, PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, said the task force, which met with the president to submit its fourth interim report to him on the successes and challenges recorded by the group in the last two weeks, would await the decisions of the president on its recommendations.
With the two-week extension which expire today, a fresh pronouncement by the President on the way forward must be made today.
The President is expected to unveil fresh guidelines on the way forward following the update he had received from the PTF.
Mustapha, however, said the issues bordering on re-opening of businesses, worship centres and schools, would be pushed to state and local governments, if the President approves their recommendations.
