Lab scientists reject Salako’s appointment as MLSCN chairman

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria has rejected the appointment of Dr Babajide Salako as the Chairman of the Board of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.

The medical laboratory scientists said the appointment breached the establishment law of MLSCN because Salako was neither a fellow of the body nor a certified practitioner of medical laboratory science.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu approved leadership changes in the health and social welfare sector, and appointed Salako and Dr. Tosan Erhabor as Board Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, respectively, of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the President of the association, Dr Casmir Ifeanyi, said, “We, the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, object and reject the said appointment because it is a breach of the law establishing the Council. By all standards and by the Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004 (Act 11 of 2003) that created MLSCN, Dr Babajide Salako does not qualify for such a position.

“Section 3 (1) (a) of the law, Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004 (Act 11 of 2003), duly enacted by the NASS and signed by the then President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, defined the qualifications of who can be appointed as the Chairman of the Board of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria. The Law, Section 3, Subsection l(a) of the Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004 states thus:

“There is established for the Council a Governing Board (in this Act referred to as “the Board”) consisting of (a)a chairman who shall be a qualified Fellow of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria with 5 years post qualification experience and shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister from a list of names of the Fellows submitted by the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria (in this Act referred to as “the Association”)”

According to Ifeanyi, Salako does not fulfil the above credentials enunciated in Section 3, Subsection 1(a) of the Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004 (Act 11 of 2003).

“We are therefore shocked at the brazen violation of the above section of the LAW without recourse to the List of names submitted by the Association in compliance with the law (Section 3, Subsection 1(a-g) of the Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004 to the Honourable Coordinating Minister, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare,” he said.

The association, however, called on the National Assembly to investigate Salako’s appointment as Chairman of the Governing Board of MLSCN.