Some stakeholders in the health sector have condemned the recent appointment of the registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The concerned stakeholders maintained that the recent appointment of the registrar by the President contradicts the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap M8 LFN 2004.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had last week approved the appointment and reappointment of board chairpersons and chief executive officers under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Some stakeholders in the health sector, in their reaction, said that the appointment of the registrar by the President is unconstitutional.
Spokesperson for the stakeholders, Kolade Ogunbiyi, said in a statement issued on Monday that Section 6(1) of the act vests the authority to appoint a registrar for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in the council and not the President.
In the statement made available to DAILY POST in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday, Ogunbiyi called on Tinubu to reverse the decision.
He said: “Our attention has been drawn to the President’s approval for leadership appointments in the health sector, including the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
“While applauding the appointment of a Chairman for the Council, an appointment that had been due since November 2022, we wish to point out that the appointment of the Registrar by the President is at variance with the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap M8 LFN 2004. Section 6(1) of the Act vests the authority to appoint a registrar for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in the Council.
“The penchant of ministers to violate the provisions of Section 4 and usurp the statutory veneer of independence of the Council to appoint registrars is against the regulatory independence of the medical and dental professions.
“We call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to halt this violation of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria.”
‘Tinubu has no right to appoint Medical Council registrar’ — Stakeholders
