The strike, which began on October 7, 2024, has disrupted NAFDAC’s essential regulatory functions, raising concerns about potential risks to public health. Speaking on the issue, Prof. Adeyeye expressed concern over the prolonged strike, stating, “The continued disruption of NAFDAC’s operations poses a significant risk to the health and safety of Nigerians. We must put the interest of the nation above all else.”

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has called on members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) to end their ongoing strike action, stressing the critical public health and national security responsibilities of the agency.

According to the NAFDAC DG, management has engaged in multiple meetings with union leadership to address grievances, including the expansion of vacancies for staff promotions, the gazetting of hazard allowances, and concerns about the agency’s training school in Kaduna. Despite these efforts, the situation remains unresolved. Prof. Adeyeye highlighted that the agency has made substantial progress on key issues, such as writing to the Head of Service for expanded vacancies and securing the Minister of Finance’s support for the gazetting of allowances.

“Promotion in public service is based on merit and availability of vacancies, and the agency is not in control of vacancies but has made necessary moves to address the situation,” she explained.

The DG also refuted allegations regarding non-payment of disengagement allowances and benefits, clarifying that the management remains committed to ensuring that outstanding claims are processed promptly. She added that efforts to resolve other union concerns, such as the casualization of drivers, expansion of the organogram, and review of laboratory allowances, are ongoing.

Acknowledging the staff’s dedication, Prof. Adeyeye appealed to union members to return to work, emphasizing the importance of NAFDAC’s role in safeguarding public health. “NAFDAC staff are known for their diligence and hard work, and I urge you to return to work in the interest of our nation,” she said.

Prof. Adeyeye assured that management would continue to address all outstanding issues, adding that the agency cannot afford to let the strike compromise its reputation or ability to generate revenue, which could affect future allowances for staff. She urged the union to follow the lead of SSASCGOC, another staff union, which has already suspended its strike.

“The strike is an ill wind that blows no good. We must prioritize Nigeria’s health and safety, and I will not rest until these issues are properly tackled,” she affirmed.

Below are what her letter to all NAFDAC Staff entails.

Dear Staff,

ONGOING STRIKE ACTION IN NAFDAC BY THE MEDICAL & HEALTH WORKERS UNION OF
NIGERIA, (MHWUN) : NEED TO RETURN TO WORK

The industrial action embarked upon by the staff unions is into its second week. The strike actionthat commenced on 7th October 2024 was precipitated by some grievances to which themanagement is paying serious attention. Despite the efforts of the Management to resolve theseissues amicably, having had three meetings with the Union leadership, (prestrike on 5th October 2024 and during strike on 11th, 18th and 19th October 2024) the situation remains unresolved.

Given the significant public health responsibilities of NAFDAC, the prolonged strike poses apotential risk to the health and safety, and security of Nigerians, as critical regulatory functions arebeing disrupted.

In addition, the cost of the strike to the Agency is unquantifiable in terms of our reputation and loss of revenue. This has obvious implications as it will impact our ability to pay productivity allowance (in 2024) and other allowances that will be due in 2025.

While SSASCGOC has shown maturity in suspending its strike action, MHWUN is still bent oncontinuing with the industrial action. It is an ill wind that blows no good. We must put the interest of Nigeria above all else.

Below are the critical issues raised by MHWUN and the efforts the management has invested towards solving them:

1. The expansion of vacancies to facilitate the promotion of all candidates that scored 60marks and above in the NAFDAC 2024 Promotion exercise. Promotion in Public Service isbased on competitive merit subject to the availability of vacancies. The Agency doesnot determine vacancies. It is purely the responsibility of the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation. However, the issue is being addressed as NAFDAC Management has written to the Head of Service through the Coordinating Minister ofHealth and Social Welfare (CMHSW) for the expansion of vacancies. The CMHSWrecommended the request, and MHWUN was informed.

2. Full Compliance with 2022 Agreement signed with the NAFDAC Council and Management:The concern of the union is gazetting of the Hazard, Productivity and Regulatory Allowances. Unknown to the union this matter has been partially addressed by theSecretary to Government of the Federation through the advocacy and interventions ofthe DG. The SGF has written to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister ofEconomy to approve the allowances for NAFDAC Staff using the user fees.

3. Training School in Kaduna: The Union was informed that training school in its physicalform was discussed as not feasible by Council in 2022 because of the political andsecurity situation in Kaduna. Online training school is already up and running in theAgency since October 2023. The management is poised to revisit the on-site trainingschool with the Council.

4. Payment of Repatriation, Burial Expenses, and Life Insurance Benefits: These issues arenon-existent as benefits are paid to deserving staff members as need arises. However,the management is committed to ensuring that all outstanding claims are paid oncethe names of the concerned persons are forwarded accordingly.

5. Payment of Disengagement allowance: The notion that the payment of this allowancehas been stopped is misguided. There was no such thought from any quater.Themanagement is committed to ensuring that any case of delayed payment is promptlyaddressed.

6. Casualisation of Drivers: Casual Drivers: In the just concluded recruitment exercise fewcasual drivers were given permanent employment and recruitment remains an ongoingprocess. As we get the necessary approvals to recruit, all the casual drivers will beabsorbed.

7. Expansion of Organogram to Allow for More Vacancies: When the DG came on board in2016, there were only 13 Directorates and 13 Directors in NAFDAC. Today we have over28 Directors in the system due to the expansion drive of the DG. Lately,four newDirectorates were created for NAFDAC. This was due to the initiatives of the DG,without prompting from any quarters. We shall continue to expand the structure toalign with our objectives, but it is a work in progress.

8. Review of Job-Specific Allowance: The issue of review of job-specific allowance is withinthe purview of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission. We agree withthe Union that the review is long overdue, but the management is not resting on its oarsto see that the matter is addressed.

9. Review of Laboratory Allowance: We are very mindful of the good job and commitmentdemonstrated by laboratory staff which was indeed the reason the allowances wereinitiated in the first place. However, starting from January 2024 50% of the Agency’sIGR was deducted from source by the government and this has impacted our finances.However, the management is open to an upward review of the Laboratory Allowancesand will ensure that the payment is at flat rate across board.

10. Transfer within the Agency: There is indeed a policy that guides transfer in the Agencywhereby officers who have spent long periods in a particular location are deployed.Since last year, staff deployment has gone on in the Agency and it is continuing. Forexample,transfers have been carried out in the South-West Zone, South-East, North-Central, and North-East Zones. The laboratory is a specialized area and transfers ofofficers in the laboratory must be done methodically and measured so as not todisrupt the system.
You can see from the forgoing that the Management did not downplay the grouse of the Union buttook positive steps towards addressing them. And I can assure you that I will not rest until theissues are proper tackled.

The NAFDAC DG’s appeal comes as public concern grows over the impact of the strike on the agency’s vital regulatory duties, particularly in ensuring the safety and quality of medicines, food products, and other essential goods in the country.