By Dare Akogun
The Kwara State Government has been has been advised to employ more Veterinary Officers into the State Civil Service with a view to enhancing professionalism and guide against quackery in the profession.
The Chairman, Veterinary Practicing Premises Committee of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Dr. Olatunji Nasir gave the advise during the inauguration of the State Committee on Veterinary Practicing Premises Regulation, held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Headquarters, in Ilorin.
Dr. Nasir, in his paper titled”Veterinary Practicing Premises: Tools for Qualitative Veterinary Services”, explained that inadequate manpower in the field of veterinary practice had greatly contributed to the influx of quackery in veterinary practice in the State and the country at large.
Dr. Nasir, who is also the President, Commonwealth Veterinary Council, identified unavailability of authentic service and failure of veterinarians to provide last mile services compounded by lax regulatory environment, as the reasons for non- professionals in veterinary practice in the country.
According to him, “the state government should establish a regulatory and accreditation agency in the Ministry of Agriculture to carry out complete audit of the veterinary ecosystem”, Nasir said.
The 9-Man Committee has Dr. Olugbon Abdullateef Saliman, Director of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, as its Chairman, while Dr. Saka Shittu, State Chairman, NVMA, Dr. Sambo Yoksa, State Chairman, Association of Private Veterinary Practitioner, A representative of State Office of the Council, and Dr. Aliyu Kabir, Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services are to serve as members.
Others members are; CSP (Dr.) Seyi Akano, Dr. Babatunde Johnson, Dr. Aminu Idiat, Alh. Yunusa Alao and Dr. Richards Bukola.
Speaking on behalf of the Committee Members, Dr. Saka Shittu thanked the Veterinary Council of Nigeria for the opportunity given them to contribute their quotas to the development of veterinary practice in the State.
Dr. Shittu, who is also the state Chairman, Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), solicited the support of stakeholders in the State and assured that the Committee would carry out its mandate responsibly.
Earlier, the state government, through the Director of Agriculture Services of the Ministry, Mall. Alhassan Mohammed, had assured the committee of necessary support needed for effective discharge of its responsibilities.
