Oversight Function: NAFDAC DG Accuses N’Assembly of Demanding Bribe
*As agency destroys N2.8bn substandard drugs
The Director General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has accused some members of the National Assembly of asking for bribe to carry out their oversight functions.
Adeyeye who described this as absurd disclosed that they had demanded the sum of N35 million to be paid to them for Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign which was a programme designed to save the lives of Nigerian children against abuse of drug.
She disclosed that this was why the agency’s budget was suspended as she would not allow such high level of extortion.
She disclosed that somebody from the National Assembly had called her Secretary to say they wanted N35m for drug awareness campaign which she objected.
The NAFDAC DG who spoke during 25th Anniversary Celebration of the agency in Lagos recently said such extortion from highly placed law makers was a big shame.
According to her, “I said no, the money is not leaving our purse because it is meant for drug abuse awareness campaign. They pressed hard, but I said we are not releasing that money because it is meant to save our children.
“Somebody like me from the United States came and was talking like this, and in one year you all got him out of the system. I told them this is my country and it belongs to all of us. I have the right to this country and I have the right to make Nigeria proud. We have to start somewhere. We are celebrating NAFDAC now because I didn’t allow what was going on to continue, which is extortion”.
She also gave another account, “On December 20, just less than a month into my tenure, the National Assembly members came for oversight function in NAFDAC, and I showed them that about 70 per cent of our equipment are not working, and that we need over 50 vehicles for our inspections, and that my directors do not have computers. They then asked if they can go into my office, I said fine. We got in, and they said they needed welfare, I said what? Are you kidding me? I told them I don’t spend money that I don’t have, and if I do, I would rather spend it on needs, and that there were models in this country that brought me up that way.
“They then told me they wanted Yuletide. I said what is Yuletide; they said it was five days to Christmas. I told them if they wanted hamper, they said no, that what they want was welfare. They said my body language was telling them I was going to give them money, I told them they got it wrong, that I won’t give them money”.
Meanwhile, the agency Monday destroyed expired, substandard drugs worth N2.8billion.
Adeyeye said the destroyed drugs were seized from manufacturers, importers and distributors.
She also said some of the drugs were voluntarily handed over to the agency for destruction.
About Post Author
