Starrays
By Moses Agbe- NASS
The House Committee on Food And Drugs, Administration and Control (FADAC) has urged the Director General of the National Agency For Food And Drugs, Administration And Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye to abide by the House resolution directing the agency to lift the ban it imposed on the sale of alcohol in sachet and pet bottles as the ban was arbitrary, unlawful and is capable of throwing thousands of Nigerians into the unemployment market at this dire period of economic distress and uncertainty.
The House Committee Chairperson, Hon. (Mrs) Regina Akume made this assertion at a world press conference at the National Assembly Complex , Abuja on the 23rd May 2024 with other Committee members including the Deputy Chairman, Hon Harris Ochenna Okonkwo and Hon. Chinedu Ogah in attendance.
While decrying the lack of regard for the rule of law and due process by the NAFDAC Director General in imposing the ban in the first place,
Hon. Akume also criticized the neglect, failure or refusal of the NAFDAC DG to obey the resolution of the House which was passed by an overwhelming majority of lawmakers.
The Chairperson also cited the grave economic consequences of the NAFDAC ban on the livelihoods of many Nigerians directly or indirectly employed by the satchet/pet bottles manufacturers.
The Chairperson of the FADAC Committee spoke through her representatives, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Harris Okonkwo and Hon. Ogah.
Inconclusion,the House Commitee issued a communique calling on NAFDAC to lift the ban immediately while reiterating that the Commitee shall be compelled to report back to the House for further Parliamentary action if NAFDAC does not act in compliance with the House resolution aimed at making life easier and better for Nigerians in line with it’s avowed Legislative Agenda.
See some parts of the text of the press conference.
PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOOD AND DRUGS ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL (FADAC).
“It is with deep sense of responsibility to the people of Nigeria, high respect for and total submission to the rule of law, that we have come before you this afternoon to brief you and Nigerians on the blatant show of disregard for the laws of the land by the Director General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye.
“Recall that the House in a resolution, NASS/CNA/35/VOL4/100, dated 21st March, 2024 in consideration of REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOOD AND DRUGS ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL ON THE NEED TO SUSPEND THE BAN IMPOSED BY THE NATIONAL AGENCY FOR FOOD AND DRUGS ADMINISTRTTION AND CONTROL ON THE SACHET ALCHOLIC AND LESS THAN 200ML PET BOTTLES (HR16/02/2024), directed that the ban should be lifted because of wrong timing and unstable state of the economy where ‘unemployment rate is staggering and inflation rate is soaring, while the poverty is on the increase with paucity of FOREX to do business.’
” The agency in question was duly served with the resolution, but to our greatest surprise, no action has been taken to implement the resolution and comply with the directives, two months after it was passed.
“You need not to be told that the parliament is the center piece of our democracy. If the Nigerian parliament that is the fulcrum and giant
of African democracy is abused in this manner, the future of African democracy will be doomed.
“The committee regrets the sudden deteriorating mutual relationship between the agency and the parliament, which is counter productive to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We view the Director General’s action as a direct affront on the rule of law and the people’s parliament.
“If this display of impunity is allowed to go through, it will set a dangerous precedence for future abuse and disregard for legislative directives and set a pace for undermining our hard earned democracy.
“In view of the above, which clearly suggest her insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians, undermined the authority of the House and defiled the rule of law, we make bold to categorically state as follows- – -,”the Committee stated.
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