NAFDAC Boss Laments Manpower Shortage, Seeks More Staff

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised concerns over the agency's severe manpower shortage, warning that its current workforce is inadequate to effectively regulate products consumed by more than 240 million Nigerians. She said the agency currently operates with only about 2,000 staff nationwide, making it difficult to carry out its regulatory responsibilities efficiently.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Adeyeye compared Nigeria's situation with Indonesia, noting that the Asian country, with a population of about 280 million, has approximately 20,000 regulatory personnel. She argued that although NAFDAC is not seeking such a large workforce immediately, the agency urgently requires at least 5,000 additional employees to strengthen its operations across the country.

The NAFDAC boss explained that the shortage has stretched the agency's resources, limiting its ability to maintain an effective presence nationwide despite its responsibility for regulating food, medicines, cosmetics and other products. She said the agency continues to do its best under the circumstances but needs greater government support to improve its effectiveness.

Adeyeye also called for improved funding for the Federal Task Force established under the C34 Act of 2004, noting that the initiative has never received financial support since it was created. She expressed optimism that the Federal Government would address both the staffing and funding challenges following ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Finance.

She maintained that strengthening NAFDAC's workforce and providing adequate resources would enhance the agency's ability to safeguard public health, combat counterfeit products and improve regulatory enforcement across all states of the federation.