By Editor
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has dismissed the claims made by aggrieved workers as the basis for their industrial action, describing them as “untrue.”
Prof Adeyeye explained that while the management has been attentive to the workers’ welfare, it is limited by its mandate in matters such as promotions and certain remunerations.
In a statement on Monday by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, the DG however reiterated her commitment to the workers’ welfare.
As at the time of filing this report, the workers have not called off the one-week-old industrial action, as their demands remain unmet, though, it was gathered that negotiations to end the strike are ongoing.
The workers are protesting the agency’s failure to promote the significant number of staff who participated in the 2024 promotion interviews.
According to the aggrieved workers, despite many of them meeting or surpassing the required pass mark, NAFDAC management cited a lack of vacancies, leaving more than 500 eligible employees without the promotions they had earned.
They are also protesting NAFDAC management’s failure to uphold a 2022 agreement that addressed workers’ welfare and promotion issues.
However, in the statement, the DG refuted the claims made by the striking workers, stating that they are untrue, highlighting several actions taken to reposition the agency and create a conducive working environment for the staff.
According to Akintola, since the assumption of office in February 2022, the DG has spearheaded significant reforms to enhance the agency’s operational capacity.
According to him, the DG inaugurated 73 new operational vehicles, including 43 Hilux vans, 20 Toyota Camry cars, and 10 buses, in key locations like Abuja, Oshodi, and Apapa.
These additions were aimed at improving regulatory inspections, staff welfare, and operational efficiency.
Additionally, under her leadership, a N3.2 billion debt was cleared within a year of her appointment, demonstrating her commitment to cost-saving and effective management.
“Whether it is a matter of promotion or estacode, the agency has been following the rules and is committed to promoting the workers’ welfare.
“We are not in charge of the number of people to promote, we are only responsible for conducting exams.
“The office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HOS) is always responsible for allocating available vacancies that the government can pay for.
“It is not that there is a vacancy and we are not promoting. It is what the government can pay for that they approve as vacancy every year. It is not different from any other agency.”
“On the issue of estacode, as raised by the striking workers, the NAFDAC boss said there is nothing wrong with the agency’s estacode policy.
“That is just playing to the gallery. Our staff have always been paid their due estacode and so, that is not an issue.
“We are not different from any other agency, the estacode will be paid when the evidence of the trip is presented. We have never owed any staff any travel allowance,” the DG affirmed.
Akintola noted, however, that there are positive signs on the horizon, suggesting the matter will soon be resolved, saying, “The agency, like any other in the country, is not permitted to exceed approval given by the federal government but I can assure you that the matter is being looked into at the highest level of government for a possible resolution without further delay.
“The government, the agency, and the unions are not oblivious of the importance of the role being played by NAFDAC in safeguarding the health of the nation.
“A common ground would be found in due course, and everyone will go back to their duty posts”.
