29th June, 2016
About 1,000 members of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) on Wednesday marched on major streets of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, protesting alleged closure of their business premises by officials of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN.
The protesters commenced their protest at Foko Area of Ibadan carrying placards with different inscriptions condemning PCN’s decision.
They described the action as a flagrant violation of a Federal High Court judgment delivered on September 24, 1996 in Lagos, which did not authorise the organisation to issue licence to them. They added that PCN has no right to challenge the licence of NAPPMED members.
The protesters argued that it is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Health, not any association or group, to issue members licence which was renewable annually.
They described further the incessant closure of their shops and business premises by PCN as an “illegality and contempt of court”
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “The former Inspector General of Police is aware of the position. He gave the order before, that police must not join hands with the PCN in a matter that is sub-judice”, “PCN should abide by the existing court judgment”, “NAPPMED say no to Pharmacist”, “PCN Stop Closing our members’ shops”, “Pharmacists Stop Harassing NAPPMED members”, “The Federal Ministry of Health cannot delegate its power to another body (see Judge I.N Auta’s judgment)”, and “NAFDAC has been very busy checking our shops throughout the country and we have been licenced to operate”.
Speaking with journalists during the protest, the NAPMED Chairman, Board of Trustee, Apostle Moses Alebiowu, maintained that it was wrong for PCN to disrupt their activities because NAPMED members were complimenting health care delivery system in the Nigeria.
Alebiosu stated: “National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been monitoring our businesses and we have receive a clean bill of health. It is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Health to issue licence to our members. It was renewable annually, it is not PCN responsibility. We do not sell fake or adulterated drugs because it is the pharmacists that import and manufacture the drugs we sell. The incessant closure of our shops and business premises by PCN is an illegality and amount to contempt of court”
According to him, PCN attempt to throw his members out of business would only increase the rate of unemployment.
He warned the PCN to immediately stop its illegal activities if it doesn’t want confrontation.
Alebiosu called on the appropriate government authority to call PCN to order to avoid breakdown of law and order in the country.