Lab scientists seek better treatment, urge industrial harmony

The Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) has called on the Federal Government to stop the alleged harassment of its members in public health institutions by members of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

It specifically urged the Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita to prevent the ‘looming’ crisis in the sector that could affect effective healthcare delivery nationwide.

The NISLT is under the Ministry of Science and Technology while the Ministry of Health supervises the MLSCN.Chairman, Governing Council of the NISLT, Charles Obaseki, at a press conference in Ibadan, said it was unfortunate to “note that members of the MLSCN are physically preventing our members from participating in interviews for job placements in health institutions and closing down their private laboratory outfits.”

He disclosed that while some of his members allegedly assaulted in Delta State had approached the court for a redress, Obaseki, however, stressed the need to prevent a future occurrence. Accompanied by the vice chairman of the council, Alhaji Abubakar Hassan, and registrar, Mr. Yemi Gbadegesin, NISLT described as unconstitutional the alleged public statement by the MLSCN that its members have no “right to work in laboratories of health institutions where they have been duly employed and demanding for their dismissal.”

He claimed: “They also go as far as preventing students of science laboratory technology in tertiary institutions in carrying out industrial training (IT) relevant to their course of studies in these laboratories owned by the federal and state governments.”

Calling on health institutions to disregard the statement, which he said “contravened the functions of the NISLT as contained in Act 12 of 2003 as published in the official gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria No. 47, Volume 90 of July 23, 2003”, Obaseki disclosed that the institution would continue to toe legal means to resolve the crisis.He stated: “By virtue of Section 2 (M) of the Act, the SLT professionals are entitled to work in both public and private sectors of the economy.”