The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) today canvassed the need for tax reliefs for local manufacturing pharmaceutical companies to enable them produce quality and affordable for the citizenry.
The Director-General of the agency, Prof Moji Adeyeye, who made the call during a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, explained that such relief would attract more investors into the pharmaceutical companies in the country.
She said:“NAFDAC is currently working with the Ministry of Trade and Industry on the issue of tax relief for locally manufacturing pharmaceutical companies, and we are optimistic that they will oblige.
“About 80 per cent of materials currently use in the production of drugs are imported while only 20 per cent is sourced locally”, Adeyeye added.
According to her, the ugly development is not desirable for the nation’s healthcare system and therefore should be reversed.
The NAFDAC boss promised that the agency was committed to reverse the trend and ensure that 80 per cent of what is needed for production of drugs is sourced within the country and only 20 per cent will be imported.
“In doing this, it will also help us in achieving ease of doing business, one of the policies of the present administration to boost investment’’, she said.
Adeyeye also gave hints of plans being made by the agency’s management to secure an enhanced salary structure for the staff to motivate them and boost the fight against illicit drugs.
She lamented that despite the sacrifices and commitment being displayed by the agency’s employees to save the lives of Nigerians, they were not adequately paid.
Adeyeye recalled that the staff of the agency joined the last industrial action of JOHESU in solidarity with the association’s clamour for improved conditions of service, the management of the agency used the opportunity to meet with the union to address the issues on welfare.
She assured: “A lot has been achieved with the union, we have our plans, very soon we will get a new staff good salary structure.’’
