Tinubu Effects Leadership Changes In Health And Social Welfare Sector

● Appoints, re-appoints CEOs of NAFDAC, NCDC, PCN, MDCN, 4 other agencies

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment and reappointment of Board Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of eight agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

This move, according to a release issued on Thursday by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, is in furtherance of President Tinubu's determination to bring world class standards to Nigerian public health administration and to manifest his commitment to deliver affordable and quality care to all Nigerians under governance and regulatory frameworks commensurate with international best practice.

The appointments and reappointments include National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC): Board Chairperson: Dr. Mansur Kabir and Chief Executive Officer: Prof. Moji Adeyeye; National Blood Service Commission (NBSC): Board Chairperson: Prof. Abba Zubairu and Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Saleh Yuguda;

Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN): Board Chairperson: Prof. Afolabi Lesi and Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Fatima Kyari; and Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN): Board Chairperson: Pharm. Wasilat Giwa and Chief Executive Officer: Pharm. Ibrahim Ahmed.

Others are Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN): Board Chairperson: Dr. Babajide Salako and Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Tosan Erhabor; Moddibo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola (MAUTH): Chief Medical Director / CEO: Prof. Adamu G. Bakari;

Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua (ISTH): Chief Medical Director / CEO: Prof. Reuben Eifediyi

Futhermore, as part of efforts to bolster the resiliency of Nigeria's public health surveillance and security architecture, President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Dr Olajide Idris as new Director-General/ Chief Executive Officer for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with effect from February 19, 2024.

The statement added that the President painstakingly considered the wealth of experience of each qualified and aforementioned Nigerian, who will be tasked with driving his Renewed Hope Agenda in the sector.

The President will also expect that the new leadership across this critical human development sector will substantially raise the standards of healthcare service delivery for the exclusive benefit of all strata of the Nigerian population as his administration is committed to implementing a whole-of-government approach to transforming the sector to enhance aggregate national quality of life and productivity.

Owing to the high cost of historical underperformance in the sector, President Tinubu anticipates the immediate and effective implementation of new policy frameworks to reposition the sector under the able leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate.