The ongoing strike by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) staff has intensified struggles for pharmaceutical manufacturers, as goods remain stalled at ports without clearance. The situation is raising concerns across the healthcare sector about potential risks from a rising influx of substandard drugs into the market.
Oluwatosin Jolayemi, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), emphasized the disruptive impact of the strike, noting, “While there haven’t been severe delays in all areas, manufacturers who need NAFDAC approval to clear their goods at the ports are currently unable to do so.”
The strike, initiated on October 7 by NAFDAC workers under the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), stems from unresolved employee welfare issues. Key demands include revising the pass threshold of the 2024 promotion exams (currently at 35 percent), addressing vacant director positions, improving promotion exam standards, establishing a psychology officer cadre, and addressing salary arrears for staff recruited in 2022.
Jolayemi pointed out that challenges extend beyond NAFDAC’s disruption. “The strike is only one part of the issue. Many manufacturers are also facing difficulties in duty payments due to banking constraints, so even if the strike ends, clearing goods at the ports remains a challenge,” he explained. He added that the inability to clear goods impacts not only pharmaceutical companies but manufacturers across various sectors, including leather and soft drinks.
Former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Olumide Akintayo, expressed concern over the public health risks associated with the strike. “NAFDAC’s absence from the ports compromises drug safety. Regulatory checks and lab analyses for food, drugs, and medical devices are delayed, and without NAFDAC’s oversight, proper documentation cannot be maintained,” Akintayo warned, highlighting the potential entry of unregulated drugs into the country.
Akintayo also criticized the government’s approach to industrial relations, stating that unresolved worker grievances frequently lead to strikes that could have been prevented. “The Joint Health Sector Union provided a 15-day ultimatum, which was ignored. Such oversight in addressing workers’ needs continues to result in avoidable disruptions,” he remarked.
He urged NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, to work toward a swift resolution, emphasizing the urgency of restoring regulatory functions to prevent further risks to public health.
