The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the federal government’s planned compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for workers and Nigerians.

NLC President Ayuba Wabba expressed labour’s position while unveiling the COVID-19 vaccination advisory for federal civil servants on Monday in Abuja.

It would be recalled that the federal government said it would enforce COVID-19 vaccination amongst the country’s civil servants effective from December 1.

Mr Wabba said the federal government should use the tool of persuasion rather than force to get workers and the general public to take it.

“I urge workers all over the world to take advantage of the COVID-19 vaccines and keep themselves, their families and their colleagues at work safe and free from the morbid threats of the Corona pandemic.

“We urge the government and other employers of labour to make special arrangements for workers to access the vaccine at the workplace.

“We urge that the tool of persuasion and conviction be used rather than force to get workers and the general populace to take the vaccine,” the labour leader said.

Noting that COVID-19 had brought some of the biggest strains, stress and squeeze to the workplace, Mr Wabba said thousands of workers had died from the disease.

“The high rate of fatality is unfortunate but also highlights the sacrifice that workers have made in combating and containing this deadly virus.

“Many more workers have lost their jobs and means of livelihood to COVID-19,” he said.

(NAN)