PHARMACISTS PETITION JONATHAN OVER REGISTRAR'S ALLEGED PLOT TO EXTEND TENURE

PHARMACISTS in the country have petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan on the lingering crisis at the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), which have imparted negatively in the operations of the regulatory agency.

Specifically, they want the President to act swiftly to stall the alleged move by the incumbent Registrar/Secretary of the council Ahmed T. Mora to prolong his tenure as the, despite official pronouncement of the Head of Service of the Federation that officers of his cadre who have been on Grade 17 (HATISS 15) or its equivalents shall retire from service upon serving eight years in the post.

Also, the body wants the President to address the wrong appointment of eight persons into the PCN not elected and recommended by PSN.

The pharmacists under the aegis of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), claimed that Mora was employed as Registrar/Secretary to the Council on October 1,2003 and has served eight years in that capacity.

According to them there was no where in his appointment letter where the incumbent was designated as Chief Executive Officer.

Besides, they stated that the Decree or law establishing the Council has no provision for Chief Executive Officer and is yet to be amended to reflect such.

In a letter to the President signed by the its president, Azubike Okwor, and national secretary, Gbenga Olubowale, the group solicited an immediate retirement of Mora, as Registrar/Secretary of PCN in tandem with Public Service Rule 020810 which states that all Directors, Salary Grade level 17 (HATISS 15) and its equivalent shall retire from the service upon serving eight years on the post.

Mora was appointed as Registrar/Secretary of the PCN on HATISS 15 by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria on October 1, 2003, which implies that he is due for retirement on September 30, 2011 by virtue of the Public Service Rule 020810, which clearly defines the Tenure of director on GL 17 (HATISS 15) or its equivalent position in all Ministry, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Rule 020810 posits: 'All directors' salary GL 17 (HATISS 15) or its equivalent shall retire from service upon serving eight (8) years on the post.

On the defective composition of the Board of the PCN, the pharmacists stated: 'Since the inception of PCN in 1991, the procedure of requesting the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria to send her duly elected representatives has always been obeyed except for the pending case which is hereby brought to the attention of Your Excellency.

It is very sad, Your Excellency, to put on record that despite the series of events, the wrong appointment of eight persons not elected and recommended by Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has not been addressed,' they states.

Author of this article: Editor
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