Kehinde Fajobi
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised concerns over staff shortages, which she said are limiting the agency’s ability to carry out its regulatory duties effectively.
Adeyeye disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, stressing the need for the government to address the problem.
“PCN (Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria) is responsible for registering drug-selling sites, whether a small kiosk or large shop, and also the practitioners.
“But both NAFDAC and PCN face staff shortages, which hinder our ability to reach every corner of the country,” she said.
She noted that NAFDAC’s collaboration with PCN was vital but insufficient to overcome the challenges posed by inadequate staffing.
Highlighting the disparity in staffing compared to other nations, Adeyeye said: “Indonesia, with a population of 280 million, has 20,000 staff at its regulatory agency, while Nigeria, with 220 million people, has only 2,000 NAFDAC staff.”
On the recent labour union crisis within NAFDAC, Adeyeye clarified that staff promotions were not within the agency’s control but determined by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOS).
“The Head of Service has the mandate for the number of staff to be promoted. It is not something NAFDAC could unilaterally decide.
“After discussions with the unions, and with intervention from the presidency, the issue has been resolved for now,” she said.
Adeyeye assured that NAFDAC remained committed to staff welfare, including prompt payment of salaries, allowances, and benefits.
“Things have changed completely in NAFDAC. The staff knows they have a management that is always on their side,” she concluded.