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The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has expressed strong opposition to the proposed creation of a Surrogacy Commission, a National Accreditation and Standards Commission, a Tertiary Health Institutions Commission, and Sickle Cell Research and Therapy Centres across the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The association characterized the proposal from the National Assembly as legally unnecessary, economically impractical, and administratively inefficient.
In a statement released on Wednesday, ACPN National Chairman Pharmacist Ambrose Ezeh and National Secretary Pharmacist Omokhafe Ashore warned the National Assembly against what they deemed unnecessary bureaucracies.
According to DAILY POST, the National Assembly had previously conducted public hearings regarding the proposed establishment of these commissions and centres.
Our correspondent reported that the hearings took place in the House of Representatives on November 18, 2025, and in the Senate on November 24, 2025, respectively.
However, ACPN emphasized in the statement that existing national research institutions, such as the Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), continue to face underfunding.
They argued that any effort to create these agencies across the six geopolitical zones would result in a waste of resources.
The duo stated, “The initiative to establish three Commissions based on the legal frameworks set forth in the NH-Act 2014 is unnecessary.
“What is lacking is adequate oversight from the National Assembly, which should prioritize providing a robust budget that enables the NTHISC to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.
“The proposal to simultaneously establish seven Research and Therapy Centres is both absurd and unrealistic.
“A more sensible approach would be to create one central Sickle Cell Research Centre and to develop additional therapy centres within the 73 Federal Health Institutions to enhance advocacy, counseling, and treatment for Nigerians, rather than generating new jobs for individuals in an already strained Health Sector.”
What is the ACPN's stance on the proposed commissions?
The ACPN opposes the proposed establishment of several commissions and therapy centers, labeling them as unnecessary and a waste of resources, given the current underfunding of existing national research institutions.
What do the ACPN officials suggest instead?
They suggest establishing one central Sickle Cell Research Centre and additional therapy centres in existing Federal Health Institutions to improve advocacy, counseling, and treatment.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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