NLC/CSO situation room urges commuters to adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines

 The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Situation Room in Plateau has urged commuters in the state to adhere to the COVID-19 safety guidelines to avoid contracting the virus.The Chairman of the situation room, Mr Steve Aluko, made the call on Monday in Joswhen he led members of the group and officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to monitor and enforce compliance of the safety guidelines by commuters.Aluko said the call became imperative in view of the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country.He described the continuous clustering of humans in tight spaces as unfortunate, urging commuters to take responsibility of their health.He said that the monitoring and enforcement exercise was part of efforts to further drive home the risk of contracting COVID-19.“With the continous  increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases, the spotlight has remained on the  public places to include the transport sector.“And with the high risk of community transmission, there is need to  intensify awareness to the public aimed at curbing the spread of the disease,” the chairman said.The Chairman of the Plateau branch of the NURTW, Malam Yashau Mohammed, said  that disciplinary measures had been put in place for erring members of the union.Mohammed also said that safety measures had been put in place in all motor parks across the state.He appealed to commuters to take responsibility of their safety stating that COVID-19 was real.A member of the NURTW monitoring team, Mr Ezekiel Adamu, said the commuters were responsible for the overcrowding of vehicles.Adamu emphasised that the union had made sacrifices on its part and was expecting commuters to contribute their quota.“We have increased the fare by just N50 to ensure that we carry according to government specified number but passengers are refusing to pay.“We want them to know that COVID-19 is real and there is need to support government by obeying the safety protocols,” he said.