THE President, Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) Dr Dahiru Abdulahi has berated the Federal Government for engaging foreign consultants in areas that can be handled by their indigenous colleagues.
He spoke at the 21st Mandatory workshop of the institute in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The training had as theme, “Your Laboratory,Your Business.”
He said: “Furthermore, the use of foreign consulting laboratory/consultants who are not appropriately registered under laws, to just monitor water produced for Nigerians is unacceptable. IPAN members must be given the opportunity to do that. Else, it is a slap to the government in the face,who keeping on talking of creating jobs and wealth.
“Therefore, I call on National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to engage IPAN members to exploit ways of domesticating that exercise to build confidence, competence and expertise, and help to conserve our scarce foreign exchange. If we are all working towards benefiting the Nigerian we must work together in tandem.’’
Abdullahi listed some challenges of the institute as its inability to discipline members and register labs; good governance in testing, accreditation and sustainability of labs.
He added: “IPAN has continued to face challenges in the confused implementation of the White Paper on the Oronsaye Panel which has now been botched. The committees set up to review our enabling law, laboratory operations, relationship with our stakeholders are all working and we hope t o receive their reprts at the next Presidential Committee in May. IPAN has continued to face challenges in the confused implementation of the White Paper on the Oronsaye Panel which has now been botched. The committees set up to review our enabling law, laboratory operations, relationship with our stakeholders are all working and we hope t o receive their reprts at the next Presidential Committee in May.’’
The Acting Registrar, Duro Abdusalam, said the training was organised to hone the skills of members to enable them be at par with their colleagues elsewhere.
He said: “As Public Analysts, we are in the business of service provision . To have a cutting edge above our competitors, give satisfactory service that will compel our clients to return and win new ones, thre is need to be on top of our game. Therefore, to keep abreast of happenings in the industry and as you are aware,the dynamism of science is transcendental.”
At the event were Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Mr. Kayode Isah and Executive Director, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institutes, Prof. Olufemi Peters.