The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has expressed concern over staff shortages hampering the agency’s operations.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Adeyeye noted that the agency’s limited workforce has impacted its capacity to regulate substandard and falsified medicines effectively. She also highlighted that the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), responsible for registering drug-selling sites and practitioners, faces similar challenges.
“Both NAFDAC and PCN face staff shortages, which hinder our ability to reach every corner of the country,” Adeyeye said.
She drew a stark comparison between Nigeria and Indonesia, revealing that while Indonesia has 20,000 regulatory staff for a population of 280 million, Nigeria, with 220 million people, manages with only 2,000 NAFDAC personnel.
Adeyeye also addressed a recent labor union crisis within NAFDAC, clarifying that demands for staff promotions are beyond the agency’s control, as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation determines such matters. She confirmed that the issue had been temporarily resolved following discussions with the unions and intervention from the presidency.
Despite the challenges, Adeyeye assured that NAFDAC continues to prioritize staff welfare, ensuring timely payment of salaries, allowances, and benefits. She called on the government to address the staffing inadequacies to enhance the agency’s service delivery and safeguard public health.
