On the 15th of February, the Leadership Newspaper reported the political appointment and re-appointment of some Executive leaders of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Health.
One such appointment was the appointment of the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), this is a body that is statutorily saddled with the regulation of Medical Diagnostic Laboratory practices, control of In Vitro Diagnostics, the registration of Medical Laboratory Scientists across all cadres among other salient functions within medical laboratory ecosystem.

The president was however misled to exclude erudite and qualified medical laboratory scientists and further appoint a physician and non-professional of the council as chairman of the MLSCN, in the person of Dr Babajide Salako, who is to resume office on the 19th of February, 2023.

The president without regard and sensitivity to delicate interprofessional accords and ceasefires in the healthcare system, was misled to throw caution to the wind and appoint a board chairman who is a non-member of a profession he is intended to regulate. How do you expect such a person to know the yearnings and plight of the professionals he intends to superintend?

The physicians have their own council- the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), can a Medical Lab Scientist, Pharmacist, or Nurse be appointed as Chairman of the MDCN that regulates physician practice? Is that not a recipe for acrimony if such ever happens? What is good for the goose, should also be good for the gander.

This is the position of the Law on this matter-

"The MLSCN Act 11 of 2003, Section 3 subsection 1, stipulates that 'a Chairman SHALL be a qualified FELLOW of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria with 5 years post-qualification experience and shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister from a list of FELLOWS submitted by the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN)". The law is clear and unambiguous about who presides over medical laboratory science practice in Nigeria as Board Chairman.

Dr Babajide Salako, without any prejudice against his person, does not clearly qualify to be the board chairman of the MLSCN. He is not a Fellow of the Council of MLSCN and he is not a member of AMLSN. These are basic requirements he must meet first. This effectively and effectually makes his appointment an anomaly.
Several court judgments have also made it clear that medical laboratory science is a distinct profession and not an apron string of any other profession and can not be headed by a member of any other profession in whatever capacity.

Are we still in the lawless era of slavery? Or is this just a political compensation? Why not compensate him adequately as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Medical and Dental Council (MDCN)? If he must be compensated. Must the law always be thrown under the bus for the personal aggrandizement of a few, at the expense of public interest?

There are many erudite and qualified Medical Laboratory Scientists who have given their blood, sweat, and tears for the professional development of medical laboratory practice and have toiled for the Council over the years, making it a respected body in the comity of nations. Some of them are Professors and Doctoral holders of great international reputations.
A globally revered and renowned Nigerian Medical Laboratory Scientist, Dr Godswill Okara is the first African to be elected as a Board member of the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (IFBLS) in Suwon, South Korea. There are many other internationally respected medical scientists, too legion to mention.
Why go out of the professional milieu to pick an outsider to head this group of internationally respected professionals as Board Chairman?

Medical Laboratory Diagnosis is the core of modern healthcare and it is not to be treated with nonchalance and levity. Once proper diagnosis fails in the medical space, patients will resort to seeing glorified magicians, poly-herbal quacks, miracle hawkers, and other charlatans. The most likely result from this is needless and avoidable loss of lives.
This penchant for lawlessness is one of the reasons why the average life expectancy in Nigeria is less than 53 years. Due to lawlessness, life is nasty, short, and brutish, and now hunger has been thrown into the toxic mix of the whole mess. How does the average Nigerian survive?

It is unfortunate that while other countries are putting round pegs in round holes, President Tinubu has been ill-advised to put square pegs in round holes, possibly by political vultures hovering around him.

In Australia, where many Nigerian-trained professionals practice this great profession, as Medical Scientists, the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) is led by Professor Denise Jackson, a Medical Scientist and specialist in Blood Transfusion Science. In Ireland, the profession is led by Helen Barry, an erudite Chief Medical Scientist. In Canada, these medical laboratory professionals are led by Christen Nielsen, also a revered Medical Laboratory Professional. These are some of the countries where Nigerian medical laboratory professionals travel to seek greener pastures, especially as the country continues to grapple with the brain drain of medical laboratory professionals across all sectors and strata.

Placing a ceiling over their heads by appointing a non-member of their profession to regulate them will always create stormy issues, and this will drive more of them out of the country, where they can be assured of their professional and personal growth.

The appointment is not in the best interest of the profession and Nigerians who are still battling with the difficulty of meeting Universal Health Coverage. Triggering toxic interprofessional rivalry in the health sector with this ill-advised appointment will erode some of the gains earned in the past years.

Former President Buhari's monumental and gargantuan failure can be traced to the prevalence of wholesale political lobbyists and sleazy appointment pushers with dubious missions, parading the corridors of Aso Rock and creating confusion for the presidency during his time. President Tinubu is likely been pushed down the same path of ignominy.

With this unhealthy appointment, Nigerians should expect massive and continued brain-drain of medical laboratory professionals, lack of job satisfaction, a possible industrial showdown in the healthcare sector, and its attendant cascading negative effect on medical diagnosis in the Nigerian medico-sphere.

It is in the best interest of Nigerians, that the laws governing the establishment of MLSCN be followed to the latter and the appointment rescinded. Let the professionals who know the plight, the principles, and the idiosyncrasies of their profession, run their profession at the highest level.

It will be beneficial to the president and Nigerians that the governing laws regulating the appointment of the Board Chairman of the MLSCN be followed to the letter in the interest of Nigerians.
It is my view that the leadership of AMLSN, GMLD, AFMLS, and other affiliate groups in the medical laboratory profession seek an audience with the president and enlighten him on the importance of maintaining professional harmony in the health sector by rescinding the ill-advised appointment. To be forewarned...


Dr V.C (PhD, BMLS)
(Center for Accredited Healthcare Systems)

COPIED

Fergie001, lalasticlala.

…we have seen lawyers head transport ministries so this isn’t surprising

Hsjs

BrighterSyde:
…we have seen lawyers head transport ministries so this isn’t surprising

When one thinks the administration will get better, it keeps getting worse with uninformed decisions and appointments.

Last Monday, 2 Medical Scientists got their H1B Visas to practice in the USA, after writing their proctored exams and passing the pre-requisites..

One will be resuming at the Harvard medical Centre in Boston to join another one who already resumed there last month. These guys are from one facility. Just one Medical Laboratory facility.

Sctests:


When one thinks the administration will get better, it keeps getting worse with uninformed decisions and appointments.

Last Monday, 2 Medical Scientists got their H1b Visas to practice in the USA, they got hired right from Nigeria after writing their proctored exams and passing the pre-requisites..

One will be resuming at the Harvard medical Centre to join another one who already resumed there last month. These guys are from one facility. Just one Medical Laboratory facility.

I’m happy for them. If the country isnt favorable then by all means anyone who can should leave. Forget the idiots saying we should atay behind and pray for a better Nigeria when the politicians are ripping us off steady.

BrighterSyde:
…we have seen lawyers head transport ministries so this isn’t surprising

There is no law that stops a lawyer from heading the transport ministry.

But there is a law in the MLSCN Act that stipulates how the Chairman of the Board of the Council must be appointed.

First he MUST be a FELLOW of the Medical Laboratory Scientists Council (equivalent of Medical and Dental Council), secondly he MUST be nominated by the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (AMLSN) the equivalent of NMA.

None of these procedures were followed. They just brought the man from wherever and made him Chairman of a board he knows next to nothing about. Total chaos has now been instigated in healthcare system. I do not rule out strike action in health sector soon.

Nigerians should prepare to see their magicians and babalawos for diagnosis and blood transfusion.

He wouldn't have broken the law if he Peter Obi's people

Sctests:


There is no law that stops a lawyer from heading the transport ministry.

But there is a law in the MLSCN Act that stipulates how the Chairman of the Board of the Council must be appointed.

First he MUST be a FELLOW of the Medical Laboratory Scientists Council (equivalent of Medical and Dental Council), secondly he MUST be nominated by the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (AMLSN) the equivalent of NMA.

None of these procedures were followed. They just brought the man from wherever and made him Chairman of a board he knows next to nothing about. Total chaos has now been instigated in healthcare system. I do not rule strike action in health sector soon.

While there is no law against it would you be comfortable if a medical Dr headed the transport ministry? Not everything should be done by law but by common sense.

SwissMass:
He wouldn't have broken the law if he Peter Obi's people

This is a professional matter. If he appointed a Monsuru or Fatima, as long as he or she is a Fellow of the Council and nominated by the Professional Association, the person is good to go.

Go and read the MLSCN Act. He should follow the lawful procedure. Shikena.

Sctests:


This is a professional matter. If he appointed a Monsuru or Fatima, as long as he or she is a Fellow of the Council and nominated by the Professional Association, the person is good to go.

Go and read the MLSCN Act. He should follow the lawful procedure. Shikena.

I am telling you it wouldn't have matter if it Obi or eze

BrighterSyde:


While there is no law against it would you be comfortable if a medical Dr headed the transport ministry? Not everything should be done by law but by common sense.

Billions were spent by lawmakers to make those laws. Nigeria has some of the best and well thought out laws, but implementation is the bane.


Maybe it is good for the police to the leave procedures and arrest you for the murder committed by another person, since your face looks like that of a murderer and a yahoo boy. The police may be using his common sense. How about that?

The law is the law.

SwissMass:
I am telling you it wouldn't have matter if it Obi or eze

Shift, let professionals discuss. This is far above your pay grade and brain grade.

Sctests:


Billions were spent by lawmakers to make those laws. Nigeria has some of the best and well thought out laws, but implementation is the bane.


Maybe it is good for the police to the leave procedures and arrest you for the murder committed by another person, since your face looks like that of a murderer and a yahoo boy. The police may be using his common sense. How about that?

The law is the law.

I see that we differ in our understanding of common sense and its application. We cannot have any meaningful discourse if this is what common sense means to you.

BrighterSyde:


I see that we differ in our understanding of common sense and its application. We cannot have any meaningful discourse if this is what common sense means to you.

The law was made with common sense, why abandon it for something else?

Sctests:


The law was made with common sense, why abandon it for something else?

That something else are the unwritten laws guided by simple human logic.

BrighterSyde:


That something else is the unwritten laws guided by simple human logic.

What is the common sense in choosing a chairman of the board to lead a professional group that he is not a member of? Even when the law is against it?

If we go to Papua New Guinea and get someone to come preside over Nigeria, even against the constitution, will you proclaim it as common sense?

Why do you encourage lawlessness, even in the face of glaring facts?

Tinubu said breaking the law is like 5 and 6

Somebody once told me that Med lab scientists have complained about Doctors competing with them in their field of work, Now this happens. Anyway, expecting some sort of conflict soon.

While the procedure to nominate the chairman should be adhere i doubt if going on strike will change anything. No be today we de strike for Nigeria.

Sctests:


There is no law that stops a lawyer from heading the transport ministry.

But there is a law in the MLSCN Act that stipulates how the Chairman of the Board of the Council must be appointed.

First he MUST be a FELLOW of the Medical Laboratory Scientists Council (equivalent of Medical and Dental Council), secondly he MUST be nominated by the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (AMLSN) the equivalent of NMA.

None of these procedures were followed. They just brought the man from wherever and made him Chairman of a board he knows next to nothing about. Total chaos has now been instigated in healthcare system. I do not rule out strike action in health sector soon. Nigerians should prepare to see their magicians and babalawos for diagnosis and blood transfusion.

Eventually all the round holes will be filled with square pegs to suit the man's insecurity, this will cause many wrong decisions to be taken at the wrong times and when things still don't work, Emefiele and Buhari will take the blames.

This will continue until Nigeria goes the way of soviet union, very interesting times

NextAbuja:
While the procedure to nominate the chairman should be adhere i doubt if going on strike will change anything. No be today we de strike for Nigeria.

You clearly have never taken a patient to a government hospital during strike by Health professionals.

Macnnoli4:
Somebody once told me that Med lab scientists have complained about Doctors competing with them in their field of work, Now this happens. Anyway, expecting some sort of conflict soon.

It is terrible, some professionals find it difficult to stick to their purview of practice in Nigeria. The laws have clearly defined the practice of every professional in the healthcare sector.

Sctests:


What is the common sense in choosing a chairman of the board to lead a professional group that he is not a member of? Even when the law is against it?

If we go to Papua New Guinea and get someone to come preside over Nigeria, even against the constitution, will you proclaim it as common sense?

Why do you encourage lawlessness, even in the face of glaring facts?

It seems you are not following our conversation. Did I at any point in time say I support that appointment? Especially when there is a law guiding how the president is supposed to be appointed…no wonder you have been talking funny

SwissMass:
He wouldn't have broken the law if he Peter Obi's people

Sharapp!!
This is a professional discourse.

Nincompoops everywhere!

BrighterSyde:


It seems you are not following our conversation. Did I at any point in time say I support that appointment? Especially when there is a law guiding how the president is supposed to be appointed…no wonder you have been talking funny

I am still trying to understand your point.

Please make it clear. What is your take on the matter?

Because we aren't talking about a ministry or something. We are talking about a set of professionals that has a LAW guilding them. In which over the years, has been adhered to.

We don't care which tribe or state the chairman comes from, ALL we know is that you MUST be a fellow of MLS, and MUST be approved by the association (AMLSN). It's that simple.

arinzos:

I am still trying to understand your point.

Please make it clear. What is your take on the matter?

Because we aren't talking about a ministry or something. We are talking about a set of professionals that has a LAW guilding them. In which over the years, has been adhered to.

We don't care which tribe or state the chairman comes from, ALL we know is that you MUST be a fellow of MLS, and MUST be approved by the association (AMLSN). It's that simple.

My take on the matter is this: the extant laws guiding the appointment of the head of MLS as a professional body is as you stated above. Any other form of appointment contrary to that is a violation or and total disrespect of the law setting up that body. It’s that simple. I don’t know that guy mixed up my statements or what he read that made him feel I agree with what the president has done.

BrighterSyde:


My take on the matter is this: the extant laws guiding the appointment of the head of MLS as a professional body is as you stated above. Any other form of appointment contrary to that is a violation or and total disrespect of the law setting up that body. It’s that simple. I don’t know that guy mixed up my statements or what he read that made him feel I agree with what the president has done.

Oh...
It's alright.
I get you now.

Investigations have now revealed who misled the president into breaking extant laws regulating the profession. Dr Tunji Alausa, the junior minister for Health misled the president to appoint Dr Salako. Salako was Tunji's classmate in school, so like we suspected before now it was an appointment based on padi-padi and compensating a friend, with utter disregard for extant laws and public interest as enshrined in the constitution. An embarrassment for the presidency I must say.

Dr Salako's has a work history in United states where laws are held to be sacrosanct. I will implore him to reject that illegal appointment and ask his friend Dr Tunji for a lawful appointment where he meets requirements as stipulated by law. This is in the best interest of industrial harmony in the healthcare sector.

Sctests:


What is the common sense in choosing a chairman of the board to lead a professional group that he is not a member of? Even when the law is against it?

If we go to Papua New Guinea and get someone to come preside over Nigeria, even against the constitution, will you proclaim it as common sense?

Why do you encourage lawlessness, even in the face of glaring facts?

Sir, don't get him wrong. I am also a medical lab scientist btw. He said, putting the law aside, it still doesn't make sense for a doctor to preside over the MLS council cos they are different professions.