
The State Government of Osun, worried about the heightening degree of non-compliance of citizens to the COVID-19 safety protocols outlined by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the State Government is considering the deployment of mobile courts across the state. Instead of fines, defaulted will be made to put in hours of community service when found guilty .
In a statement issued at the end of the virtual State Executive Council meeting by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, the government expressed worry that in spite of all that has been done to enforce the safety guidelines – including lockdown, security operations and sensitization – a large number of people still move around without their face mask, while some are beginning to convene parties and social gatherings.
“This continued breach of safety protocols will further worsen the active community transmission stage the state is in and fighting hard to resist and curtail.
“The State Government will therefore look to deploy extra measures in the days ahead to upscale its fight against the spread of the pandemic. Part of the measures will be the deployment of a mobile court to conduct instant trials of defaulters, and the prescription of community service to serve as deterrence to defaulters of the NCDC and state government’s guidelines.