Ongoing NAFDAC Strike Deepens Woes For Pharmaceutical Industry

Ongoing NAFDAC Strike Deepens Woes For Pharmaceutical IndustryThe ongoing strike by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) workers is exacerbating the challenges faced by pharmaceutical manufacturers, who are unable to clear goods at ports. This situation raises concerns about the potential influx of substandard drugs, which could further strain the country’s healthcare system.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Oluwatosin Jolayemi, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, emphasized the negative impact of the strike, noting, “While we haven’t seen major delays yet, the inability to obtain NAFDAC approval means manufacturers cannot clear their goods.”

The strike, initiated on October 7 by NAFDAC workers under the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), is driven by unresolved staff welfare issues. Key demands include revising the results of the 2024 promotion exams, filling vacant director positions, reforming the promotion exam process, establishing a psychology officer cadre, and addressing unpaid salary arrears for staff hired in 2022.

Jolayemi pointed out that the challenges facing pharmaceutical manufacturers extend beyond the NAFDAC strike. “The real issue is not just NAFDAC,” he stated. “Manufacturers are struggling to pay duties at the ports due to banking issues. Even if NAFDAC resolves its problems, we still face the broader challenge of duty payments.”

He added that the inability to clear goods at the ports affects all manufacturers, not just those in pharmaceuticals. “Whether in pharmaceuticals, leather, or soft drinks, everyone is impacted by the NAFDAC strike,” he said.

Industry stakeholders, including former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Olumide Akintayo, have raised alarms about the health risks posed by the strike. Akintayo warned that the strike could disrupt regulatory processes, allowing substandard medicines to enter the market. “When NAFDAC is on strike, the regulation of drugs, food, and medical devices is severely hampered. Delays in analyzing drug samples and the absence of NAFDAC personnel at ports jeopardize proper documentation,” he explained.

He cautioned that the situation could worsen if NAFDAC management and its workers fail to resolve their differences quickly. “This strike creates opportunities for substandard drugs to flood the market, endangering public health,” he noted.

Akintayo also criticized the government’s handling of industrial disputes, stating that failure to address workers’ grievances often leads to unnecessary strikes. He referenced the Joint Health Sector Union’s recent 15-day ultimatum for their demands, which went unaddressed by the government, highlighting a troubling pattern of negligence.

He urged NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye to resolve the strike swiftly to prevent further disruption to the healthcare sector.

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