'Mr. Minister You Are Toeing The Wrong Path'-G.C. Okara'

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria has officially made its position not to participate in the Ministerial Committee set up by the Nigerian minister of health known publicly.
The letter published in the Guardian of Thursday, 8th December,2011 reads thus:








The Honourable Minister of Health
 Federal Secretariat,
Ahmadu Bello Way,
Garki, Abuja.

Dear Sir,                            28th November, 2011

Re: Committee On The Review Of Demands Made By The Association Of Medical Laboratory
    Scientists Of Nigeria

Your letter ref. no. C.3750 dated 21st November, 2011 on the above subject matter refers.
After a careful examination of the Terms of Reference as contained therein, our Association is constrained to state and hereby submits as follows:

1. The Medical Laboratory Science Council law being an act of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria requires domiciliation, recognition and full implementation in all agencies of the Federal Ministry of Health.  It is a law but not a rule.  As a statute, it is bounding on all legal entities in Nigeria.  Laws as it were, do not come under any document that is subject to comparison to so called international best practices.  The Committee set up for the purpose of the 1st term of reference is merely an administrative body, and the responsibility contemplated for it is ultra vires their powers.  Hence it cannot stand.  The practice of pandering to the whims and caprices of medical doctors and pathologists by the Federal Ministry of Health is propelling this lawlessness.  It is indeed at the root of the turmoil in the health sector in Nigeria.  Nigeria as a sovereign country has its laws to govern the conduct of business and society.  Nobody should elevate their opinions and views above the law.

2. It is inconceivable that a medical practitioner is delegated to chair a Committee adjudicating in a matter in which medical practitioners are the opposing party to the implementation of the statutory provisions of our profession.  What manner of justice and fair play would we expect from such a contraption?

3. The Association contended that the scheme of service for medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria (which has been in force since February 2001) is a residual legislation put in place to ensure excellent service provision to the patient, ethical practice of the profession and career progression of any person who is qualified and licensed to practice the profession of Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria.  The scheme is created by a body known to Law whose powers were derived from enabling statutes. In this particular case the Office of Head of Service of the Federation in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health.

4. Our Association wishes to state in an unequivocal term that the intention to 'Collate, Consult, Compare and examine all relevant circulars and documents to ascertain veracity of irregularities or otherwise of the grievances between the parties involved', as a third issue for discussion is contemptuous of the state.

The Federal Ministry of Health, in the formative stages of these statutory schemes and laws made their input at the residual stage, and indeed funded and participated in the nation-wide job evaluation exercise that preceded the approval of the scheme.  The Federal Ministry of Health additionally circulated the scheme and directed full implementation since 2001.  The ploy by medical doctors and pathologists desiring to use the opportunity of both the Hon. Minister of Health and the Hon. Minister of State for Health being their professional colleagues to foist their views on us will not stand.

With regard to the medical laboratory science Council law and statutory scheme of service for Medical Laboratory Scientists in Nigeria, their proprieties only lie with the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies to implement and nothing more.  It is to be noted that the Presidential Committee on harmony in the Health sector has already made elaborate recommendations in her report on the issues related directly to the matters referred to your new Committee.  We make bold to ask, why the duplicity? Where is the sincerity of purpose and the political will to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Committee which was submitted only last week?

5. On the strength of the above, the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria would not be able to participate in the activities of the proposed committee by the Federal Ministry of Health, as it would appear that laws and statutes made by Act of parliament are being subjected to a mere Administrative committee for amendment.  That is creating a new social order for health practitioners in Nigeria.  It is an open invitation to industrial anarchy in the health sector to say the least.

With the assurances of our highest regards.

On behalf The Association Of Medical Laboratory Scientists Of Nigeria

Dr. G.C. Okara