NAFDAC:  Brief History, Functions And Salary Structures  

NAFDAC stands for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. It is a Nigerian regulatory agency under the Federal Ministry of Health, established in 1993 to ensure the safety and quality of food, drugs, and other regulated products.

In this post, we shall take a look at NAFDAC brief history, its health related functions and salary structures for its numerous staff across Nigeria.

NAFDAC was established on January 1, 1994, by Decree No. 15 of 1993, which was later amended by Decree No. 19 of 1999 and now known as the NAFDAC Act Cap N1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Prior to its establishment, the regulation of food and drug products in Nigeria was largely ineffective, leading to the proliferation of substandard and counterfeit products in the market. This situation posed a serious threat to public health, which eventually led to the birth of a regulatory agency known as NAFDAC.

The functions of NAFDAC

NAFDAC performs amazing health functions in the country, some of which include:

1. Registration of food, drugs, and other regulated products: NAFDAC is responsible for the registration of all food, drugs and other regulated products before they can be imported, exported, or manufactured in Nigeria.
2. Control of the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, and sale of food, drugs and other regulated products.
3. Inspection of Regulated Products: NAFDAC carries out routine inspection of regulated products to ensure that they meet the required standards.
4. Enforcement of Standards: NAFDAC has the power to seize and destroy any product that does not meet the required standards.
5. Sensitization and Public Awareness: NAFDAC also carries out sensitization and public awareness campaigns to educate the public on the dangers of consuming substandard and counterfeit products.
6. Collaboration with other Regulatory Agencies: NAFDAC collaborates with other regulatory agencies, both within and outside Nigeria, to ensure that regulated products are safe and of high quality.

Salary Structures of NAFDAC  For Its Staff

The salary structures for staff of NAFDAC vary, depending on the grade level and position of the staff. Like other Federal Government public servants, the salaries and allowances of workers in NAFDAC are determined by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

The salary structure for NAFDAC staff follows the guidelines of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for healthcare professionals.

The salaries range from entry-level salaries for lower-grade levels to higher salaries for top management positions and they are well paid and jobs secured.

It is also important to note that the Federal Government periodically reviews the salary structure of public servants, and the salary structure for NAFDAC staff which means that their salaries are subject to changes over time.

In summary, NAFDAC plays a crucial role in protecting the health of Nigerians by ensuring that only safe and quality food, drugs and other regulated products are available in the market.