Declare Emergency in Nigeria’s Health Sector, PSN Urges Tinubu

– As Ogunlade emerges new chairman of Lagos PSN

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos State Chapter, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the nation’s health sector, citing what it described as an increasingly troubling pattern of governance that systematically marginalises non-physician health professionals.

The state body of pharmacists noted that, particularly over the past 30 months, the trend has undermined the multidisciplinary framework essential for effective healthcare delivery and now threatens the stability of the entire health system.

The association also urged the president to convene an urgent Presidential Dialogue with key stakeholders, especially the PSN and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), to address the growing concerns within the sector.

The pharmacists made the call during their recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), which also featured the election of new executives. Pharm. (Chief) Olaitan Ogunlade emerged as chairman, while Pharm. Oluwatosin Adeyemi was elected vice-chairman.

The outgoing Chairman, Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle, strongly reiterated the need for a state of emergency in the health sector and a presidential dialogue, noting that such engagement is critical to correcting systemic distortions in healthcare governance.

He argued that the marginalisation of non-physicians has been perpetuated over the past decade, with policy decisions and administrative actions within the Federal Ministry of Health steadily diminishing the roles of other healthcare professionals in national health governance.

“Although the current Coordinating Minister of Health initially projected a reform agenda, developments over the past thirty months have instead reinforced concerns about a governance structure that is increasingly physician-centric.

“This approach weakens inter-professional collaboration, distorts healthcare governance, and undermines the contributions of other professionals whose expertise is indispensable to effective healthcare delivery,” he said.

The outgoing chairman highlighted key areas requiring urgent intervention, including unresolved welfare issues and the CONHESS adjustment; imbalanced representation in health sector governance; institutional and legislative bias; and non-professional dominance in regulatory frameworks.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Chief Ogunlade, expressed appreciation to members for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to sustain and build upon the achievements of the outgoing executive council.

Elected alongside him were Pharm. Temitope Oluwatoyin Akinboro, secretary; Pharm. Hadassah Mwuese Babalola, assistant secretary; Pharm. Kuti Olusegun, treasurer; Pharm. Abudu Ganiyu Adekoya, financial secretary; Pharm. Paul Olatunbosun Owolabi, publicity secretary; Pharm. Winifred Ogwu, social secretary; Pharm. Bukola Aminat Oseni, editor-in-chief; Pharm. (Major) M. A. Haruna, ex-officio member; and Pharm. Oyetunde Olugbenga Ajayi, ex-officio member.

The new chairman described his leadership as one that will be guided by a clear vision to strengthen the profession, empower members, and position pharmacists as indispensable pillars of healthcare delivery in Lagos State.

“I am committed to providing purposeful leadership anchored on transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. By strengthening governance structures and ensuring the effective functioning of our EXCO and committees, we will foster unity across all arms of practice, including ACPN, AHAPN, NAPA, and ALPS, recognising that our collective strength lies in our diversity.

“Advocacy will remain central to our mission. We will actively defend and advance the role of pharmacists by engaging key stakeholders such as the Lagos State Ministry of Health and regulatory bodies, including the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. We will take firm positions on policies that affect our profession and work collaboratively to combat quackery and unsafe drug practices,” he pledged.

Ogunlade also promised to prioritise members’ welfare, strengthen communication channels, and promote inclusiveness across all cadres and sectors. Through continuous professional development, leadership training, and strategic partnerships with academia and industry, he assured members would be equipped to thrive in an evolving healthcare landscape.

In advancing public health, he said the PSN Lagos Chapter would take a frontline role in statewide campaigns promoting rational drug use, vaccination, and drug abuse prevention.

Earlier at the AGM, Pharm. Oyekunle highlighted the achievements of his administration, including strengthening regulatory presence in Lagos State; preserving and protecting branch assets; sustaining professional advocacy; maintaining the leadership role of the Lagos Chapter within the PSN; and improving the outlook of the secretariat, among others.