Concerned stakeholders in the health sector have called on President Bola Tinubu, the Minister for Health, and the Minister of State for Health to reconsider their stance on the appointment of a Registrar for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu recently approved the appointment and reappointment of the following Board chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The stakeholders, in a statement signed by Kolade Ogunbiyi, said the appointment of the Registrar by the President is at variance with the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8 LFN 2004.
The statement reads; “Our attention has been drawn to the President’s approval for leadership appointments in the health sector, including the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
“While applauding the appointment of a Chairman for the Council, an appointment that had been due since November 2022, we wish to point out that the appointment of the Registrar by the President is at variance with the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8 LFN 2004. Section 6(1) of the Act vests the authority to appoint a Registrar for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in the Council.
“That provision agrees with sections 5(1) and 171(1d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
“The penchant of ministers to violate the provisions of Section 4 and usurp the statutory veneer of independence of the Council to appoint registrars is against the regulatory independence of the medical and dental professions.
“We call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to halt this violation of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria.”
