The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised concerns about the agency’s ongoing staff shortage, which is affecting its ability to effectively carry out its regulatory responsibilities.

In an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Adeyeye discussed the challenges faced by NAFDAC, particularly in its efforts to regulate substandard and counterfeit medicines.

While acknowledging that the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) also plays a key role in regulating drug-selling establishments and practitioners, she pointed out that both NAFDAC and PCN are struggling with insufficient staff.

“The lack of personnel is a major barrier to NAFDAC and PCN’s ability to fully perform our duties, especially in reaching all areas of the country,” Adeyeye explained.

She called on the government to address the staffing issue, emphasizing that both agencies need more resources to meet their growing demands.

Adeyeye also made a comparison between Nigeria and Indonesia, noting that despite Indonesia’s larger population of 280 million, it has 20,000 staff at its regulatory agency.

In contrast, Nigeria, with a population of 220 million, only has about 2,000 staff at NAFDAC.

Regarding the recent labor union disputes at NAFDAC, the Director-General clarified that the unions’ demands for staff promotions based on the last promotion exam were beyond the agency’s control.

She explained that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOS) determines the number of promotions, not NAFDAC’s management.

“The Head of Service has the authority to decide on the number of promotions,” she stated, adding that after discussions with the unions and intervention from the presidency, the matter had been resolved.

Adeyeye reassured the public that NAFDAC had continued to prioritize the welfare of its staff by ensuring timely payments of salaries, allowances, and other benefits. She also highlighted improvements within the agency since her appointment, noting that the staff now feels supported by the management.

“Things have changed significantly in NAFDAC. The staff knows they have a management that is always on their side,” she concluded.

Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, has taken aim at the media, accusing them of focusing only on bad news.

He lamented that positive developments, particularly in security, are often overlooked, with only negative stories being considered newsworthy.

Speaking during a debate on an urgent motion about the banditry and killings in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State, Akpabio highlighted how security agencies successfully thwart numerous criminal activities, but these victories rarely make headlines.

“Security agencies often intercept criminals before they commit their acts, but these successes are rarely reported. Only the bad news is highlighted,” he said.

Akpabio’s remarks came in response to a motion moved by Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro (PDP, Gombe South), who raised concerns about the ongoing security crisis in Gombe.

In his comments, Akpabio emphasized the need for collective responsibility in maintaining security.

“It is true that state governments play a vital role in security. The responsibility should not fall solely on the federal government; every Nigerian must contribute to peace and harmony,” he added.

Earlier, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) had questioned the role of state governors in ensuring security, noting that they receive substantial security votes to support law enforcement.

He stressed that, according to the constitution, governors are the chief security officers of their states and must take responsibility for the safety of citizens.

In the wake of rising insecurity, the Senate has urged the federal government to fund the establishment of modern ranches nationwide, believing this would improve safety and boost the productivity of both herders and local communities.

The Senate also called for clearer laws to regulate economic activities under the ECOWAS treaty and safeguard the rights and security of Nigerians.

The Senate also called on key security officials, including the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to investigate the recent attacks in Gombe, arrest the perpetrators, and ensure their prosecution.

Furthermore, the Senate called for the immediate formation of a joint police and military taskforce in Billiri to prevent further violence and requested that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, NEMA, and the North East Development Commission provide relief materials to those affected by the attacks.

Senator Yaro, who introduced the motion, condemned the recent attacks in Billiri, particularly the brutal killings and destruction of property by suspected herders on December 11, 2024.

He urged for swift action to prevent further bloodshed.

Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) supported the idea of creating government-funded modern ranches, which he believes would improve safety and economic opportunities for both herders and the wider community.

He called for a comprehensive approach to the ranching plan, taking into account the challenges faced by herders who travel long distances in search of grazing land.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) reminded the Senate of a prior agreement to hold a national public hearing on security issues related to economic activities and movement.

He called for a balance of individual rights and collective security, especially within the ECOWAS framework.

Justice Benedict Kanyip of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, recused himself on Tuesday from hearing cases filed by 62 former staff members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who were recently dismissed from the bank.

The judge, who is also the President of the NICN, withdrew from the cases after it was revealed that one of the lawyers representing the CBN’s legal team, Mr. Damian Dodo, SAN, is his in-law.

The 62 claimants, all ex-CBN staff, had filed individual lawsuits against the bank, challenging their recent disengagement. One of the lawsuits, marked NICN/ABJ/26x/2024, was filed by a team of lawyers led by Ola Olanipekun, SAN.

The claimants are seeking to have their termination letters nullified, arguing that the CBN’s action violated the provisions of the CBN Act 2007 and the bank’s Human Resource Policies and Procedure Manual (HRPPM).

The claimants are also requesting that their employment contracts be declared valid, and they seek an order for reinstatement to their previous positions or higher ones.

Additionally, they are asking for back pay, including salaries, allowances, and other entitlements that would have been earned if their employment had not been wrongfully terminated.

On Tuesday, 31 of the 62 lawsuits were listed for hearing, with the remaining cases scheduled for Wednesday.

Counsel for the claimants also filed a motion to consolidate the cases.

During the hearing, Olanipekun informed the court that the case was scheduled for mention, and CBN’s lawyer, Obafemi Agaba, announced that several law firms, including D.D. Dodo, SAN & Co, would represent the bank.

It was then that Justice Kanyip noted that Damian Dodo, SAN, was his in-law and expressed his discomfort in continuing the case.

After seeking the counsel of the claimants’ legal team, Justice Kanyip decided to recuse himself from the matter, and ordered the case, along with the other related suits, to be reassigned to a different judge for further proceedings.

Both Olanipekun and Agaba expressed confidence in the judicial process, with Agaba emphasizing that justice must not only be done but be seen to be done.

A lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr. Osita Chinedu, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Monday night in the Aroma area of Awka, Anambra State.

The attackers also stole his vehicle.

According to eyewitness accounts, the gunmen flagged down Dr. Chinedu’s car, demanded his keys, and shot him.

One eyewitness remarked, “Someone was shot dead this evening. They say he was a lecturer from UNIZIK. Please, everyone, stay safe this yuletide. If someone demands your car, hand it over; our lives are more important.”

A colleague at UNIZIK, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed sorrow over the tragic loss, stating, “A fellow sports enthusiast and colleague was shot dead last night. This is no longer funny. We and our children are no longer safe in this state, not even in the capital city.”

The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the murder.

SP Ikenga Tochukwu, the police spokesperson, stated that the murder occurred at 10:10 PM at Aroma Junction, and the assailants fled with the victim’s 2006 ash-colored Toyota Corolla, which had an Enugu license plate.

The police have launched an investigation into the incident and urged anyone with information about the crime or the stolen vehicle to contact local authorities or call the police control room at 07039194332 or SP Ikenga Tochukwu at 08039334002.

The police also expressed condolences to Dr. Chinedu’s family and friends.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has reinstated two parcels of land to the family of the late General Sani Abacha, two years after they were revoked by the former governor, Nasir el-Rufai.

The lands, which had been seized in 2022, are located at No. 9 Abakpa GRA and No. 1 Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi, GRA, in Kaduna city.

The properties, which measure 2,284 square meters and 3,705 square meters respectively, were originally covered by Kaduna State Certificates of Occupancy.

In 2022, the state government, under el-Rufai, revoked several land titles in Kaduna, citing violations of the terms of Right of Occupancy.

The Abacha family’s lands were among those affected, with Sani Abacha’s name listed among the 34 titles revoked.

Following the revocation, the family’s lawyer, Reuben Atabo (SAN), filed a legal challenge, seeking redress for what he described as a public embarrassment.

The family sought the return of the properties through legal proceedings, which included suits filed in the Kaduna State High Court.

In a move to resolve the matter, Governor Sani issued two letters on December 10, 2024, reinstating the titles to the two pieces of land.

The letters, sent on behalf of the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), informed the Abacha family that their titles were reinstated, with the condition of settling any outstanding fees or charges related to the properties.

The letters were addressed to Mohammed Sani Abacha, via the family’s lawyer.