Dear Colleagues,
Happy new week.
In the past few weeks, we have all been battling the Coronavirus as best we can.
Governments at various levels issued directives partially or fully restricting movement.
We adhered.
On the 28th of April, 2020, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria announced a gradual easing of these restrictions beginning from the 4th of May, 2020.
Reports reaching me from Lagos and Abuja are to the effect that, despite this easing of the restrictions, many law firms did not insist on full resumption by their staff.
In fact, some firms insisted that their staff continue to work from home while others set up skeletal or rotational work systems where only a portion of the team members are required to attend work each day. Some have also made arrangements to ensure safe transportation of staff to and from the office. All these are despite the financial and other hardships that these decisions cause.
I am grateful to all who made these decisions.
I applaud you and thank you for doing your part to curb the spread of this virus.
To the few who have not yet taken any steps in this regard, I plead with you to do so. If your staff get infected, the chances of the infection spreading to you and others you love are increased. Taking steps to protect those around us is also taking steps to protect ourselves. This is in addition to the fact that employees need to be alive to work. Please, let’s all take action.
I encourage us all to continue to take measures to curb the spread of the virus. I urge us to continue to use technological and other solutions to solve the problems that this situation has caused.
I know that it will get better. Maybe not immediately but eventually.
Till then, let us continue to do better and better.
Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, FCIArb.
