The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, has told members of the House of Representatives that it was needless at this time to suspend plenary over coronavirus.
On Tuesday, lawmakers passed a resolution to suspend plenary for two weeks to enable the management of the National Assembly, put measures in place against the spread of coronavirus in the country.
But the NCDC boss stressed that the time hasn’t come for such because it will create panic amongst Nigerians.
Ihekweazu who spoke on Channels TV urged the lawmakers to support the efforts of experts by providing a budget that is sustainable in curtailing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“I have a lot of respect for the honourable members of the House of Representatives, but I think the time now hasn’t come, if they respond in a way like that by suspending session, everyone else will ask if they should close their businesses, office or schools and it is disproportionate at this time.
“They should support the work experts are doing; give us a sustainable budget so that we can develop the expertise.”
The NCDC boss asked the lawmakers to show confidence in the government institutions that they have set up by providing support for the work being done.
“It’s too early to carry out a measure like that; they need to express by their actions and their words, confidence in the government institutions that they have set up and their mandate is to fund.
“I understand they are expressing the anxieties of Nigerians, but they should please support the works we are doing both in the short and long-term.”
Ihekweazu while responding to a question on cures for the diseases said: “Cures are found through collective scientific effort and not from my mother’s pot in the village.”
