The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has urged the Federal government to direct law enforcement agencies assigned to enforce the restriction of movement to ensure that the movement of essential services across the country were not in any way hindered.
The President of the Council, High Chief Peter Ameh gave the advice in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the advice was necessary following complaints that basic and essential goods and services were unable to get to citizens across the federation, due to the movement restrictions, as directed by the federal government.
Ameh added that the clampdown on transportation had also affected the movement of personnel lawfully empowered and engaged in combating the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“There is, however, an urgent need to engage the services of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) as well as certified airlines in the country to ensure a swift response to emergencies and easy movement of personnel within the country.
“With the urgency attach to this recent development, we hereby call on the Federal government to immediately direct and ensure that the movement of these essential services are not in any way hindered by law enforcement agencies assigned to enforce the movement restriction howsoever, across the country,” he said.
Ameh, also National Chairman of the deregistered Progressives Peoples Alliance, who noted that workers on essential duties were stranded at several junctions in FCT, urged the government to provide buses to convey those on essential duties.
“Government should make buses available for those on essential health and other duties of importance to members of the public.
“Government should also pay compassionate salaries to all those in the front lines risking their lives to keep us all safe
“The federal government is further advised to initiate programmes and policies geared towards cushioning the pains and sufferings which will result from the directive,” he said.