Lawan fumes over ministers’ absence at COVID-19 Summit

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has berated the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State, State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora, and the Permanent Secretary, Mahmuda Mamman, for being absent at the National COVID-19 Summit.

The summit was aimed at bringing all stakeholders together to discuss ‘ending the pandemic’ and with the theme: “Pushing Through the Last Mile to End the Pandemic and Build Back Better”.

Lawan said the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 is simply an interventionist outfit, hence the ministry of health is meant to be physically present to garner all the sources from the summit for necessary action.

“Before I begin my remarks, is the permanent secretary ministry of health here? I asked that question because the two ministers of health are not here. The Minister of Health, the Minister of State and the permanent secretary are not here. I believe this is not good.”

When told Ehanire was present earlier, the Senate President responded, “Yes, he just left but somebody should have replaced him. Because everything we do here, the federal ministry of health is supposed to be here to garner all the resources that will come out of this. The PSC is simply an interventionist outfit. And as politicians and political leaders, we are supposed to be very serious and committed about the health of our people.”