Seaports across the nation may experience a spike in congestion as Members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control branch, on Wednesday, embarked on an indefinite strike.
Since the announcement of the strike action by the union, there has been growing fears among importers of NAFDAC regulated goods as they may not be able to clear their consignment across the nation’s seaports, hence fears of port congestion.
Speaking on Wednesday at NAFDAC office in Lagos, state chairman of the union, Auwalu Yusuf Kiyawa, said the strike begins “with immediate effect” to protest the non-payment of allowances to the workers of the agency. He said the union will not call off the strike until the allowances are paid.
NAFDAC was established by Decree No. 15 of 1993 as amended by Decree No. 19 of 1999 and now the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act Cap N1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use of Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, Medical Devices, Packaged Water, Chemicals and Detergents (collectively known as regulated products). The agency was officially established in October 1992.
