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(5) NEC & STATE EXCO. • NEC had a meeting with the Chairmen or representatives of States branches in April. The meeting took place at Akure, Ondo State soon after we had marked the World Veterinary Day. Far-reaching decisions were taken and reports from the states were discussed. States were advised to replicate the media and publicity efforts of NEC in their various states.
(6) NVMA & NAFDAC/ Pet Food Importers • The Veterinary profession had some landmark successes with NAFDAC within the year. Towards the end of December 2011, an association of Pet foods importers populated by our veterinarians wrote to protest certain extortionist tendencies by NAFDAC, harassing and collecting illegal levies at the port before allowing them to clear their containers with goods. NEC stepped into the matter and a meeting was convened where all our prayers were met, except the refunds of earlier paid levies.
(7) NVMA & NAFDAC/ VET DIRECTORATE • The journey of almost thirteen years finally rested on the 27th April 2012 when the Hon. Minister of Health, Prof OnyebuchiChukwu announced publicly that four new Directorates have been created in NAFDAC…including the Directorate of Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products. A lot of efforts were engaged directly and indirectly since we took over to consolidate the great works earlier done by Past NEC. We have not rested, until there is full-fledged composition of NAFDAC Board and management of the Directorates. We have so many friends within NAFDAC now than before.
(8) NVMA & PCN/ KANO DPS • Again, Kano State Ministry of Health through their Director of Pharmaceutical Services (DPS) set up a Task Force supported by the Police to harass Veterinary establishments illegally. NVMA had to intervene immediately and the case is still being investigated by the Nigeria Police while we are reviewing our legal cases pending in the court, to forestall future aggressions.
(9) NVMA & ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES • There is no doubt that we have laid back for too long by not joining this highly privileged group of eminent professions in their twenty-eight years of existence. In September 2012, President Jonathan invited 128 Professional bodies and Civil Society groups for a retreat. NVMA was conspicuously omitted, because the Federal Government had no business thinking of which profession was important and which was not.
They simply invited the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), to call out their members. We have already commenced the process of becoming a member. The application form has been paid for and the Secretary-General would need to hasten up the filling before another retreat invitation omits our name.
(10) WORLD VETERINARY DAY & WORLD RABIES DAY MARKED CENTRALLY • For the purpose of a better public visibility and like other countries do, NEC agreed to henceforth mark the identified Veterinary related events nationally in a chosen state that has expressed interest to host, specifically the World Veterinary Day on the last Saturday in April and World Rabies Day in September 28, every year.
This year we were in Akure, Ondo State for the former, while Ogun State hosted us for the latter event. The attendance was good at both events. Thanks to the event hosting states of Ondo and Ogun. We call on any state that is confident enough to host subsequent years to register their intention early, for the sake of proper planning.
WORLD VETERINARY DAY AT AKURE, 3RD FROM LEFT, ENGR OLORUNFEMI, COMMISSIONER FOR AGRICULTURE, ONDO STATE.
SOME STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED SENSITIZATION WORKSHOP ON RABIES ORGANIZED BY NVMA LAGOS CHAPTER.
(11) NVMA ASSISTED EMPLOYMENTS • The National Secretariat has obtained a very reliable database of those among us looking for jobs. There were several respondents when the request was placed on our nvmayahoogroup. Quite a numbver of our business colleagues have triusted our capacity to screen and recruit staff for them, without subjecting them to undue pressures and filial influences.
By this process, we have so far recruited thirteen Veterinarians for these companies. They are our ambassadors and we are keeping a tab on their activities. Some of them have been given company cars as part of their terms. We are also monitoring the Technical Aid Corps process, which promises to favour veterinarians this year.
(12) NVMA NEC MEETINGS • Within the past year, there have been more NEC meetings than the total number of NEC meetings in so many years. NEC has met in full sessions for four times, there have been five mini- NEC consultative meetings, with the President presiding. There have been controversies, misunderstanding, misgivings, shouting matches, rudeness and tolerance to get going and to sort out knotty issues. Some we have resolved, others are still being looked at.
There is a fact finding committee on NVMA Ventures and other sundry issues, headed by Dr Ahmed Abdullahi- VP 1. They would be reporting their findings to us at this AGM. In line with my campaign promise for more open disclosures of how we administer our association, we have not hidden these realities. • These disagreements and eventual possible agreements are all necessary ingredients of growth that we desire, provided that the ultimate goal is to serve NVMA sincerely, effectively, and transparently.
Change is difficult but certainly it is an idea whose time must come. We need the support of all members to survive these internal challenges. They are real and only time would heal them. As we mature, there would be reviews of our constitution to deal more effectively with areas for which current provisions are unable to deal with, such as indiscipline by elected officials and reckless disobedience to constituted authority by elected officials.
(13) 50TH ANNIVERSARY GOLDEN JUBILEE. • The Golden Jubilee of NVMA is next year and it promises to be a watershed for our association. There is a 15-man committee to pilot the programme for us, headed by Dr JunaiduMaina, the immediate past Director, Federal Department of Livestock and former CVO of Nigeria. Their letters shall be given to them at this congress.
50th ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS • 1. DR JUNAIDU MAINA- CHAIRMAN • 2. DR OLATUNDE AGBATO • 3. DR TUNJI NASIR • 4. DR BEN ORUERIO • 5. DR BOLAJI AFOLABI • 6. PROF FASANYA • 7. DIRECTOR, FDL. • 8. DR SIMON ENEM- SECRETARY • 9. DR AISHA ABUBAKAR • 10. DR MONDAY OJEAMIREN • 11. DR LAMIN LOMBIN • 12. PROF GARBA SHARUBUTU • 13. DR MUHAMMED BELLO AGAIE • 14. DR UCHENNA ANIEBONNAM • 15. DR MARKUS AVONG (VCN REGISTRAR)
We hope to use the anniversary to cover lost grounds and reposition the association in the public eyes. Please pay your dues and be at rest assured that your funds are in very safe hands.
(14) HUGE INDEBTEDNESS TO THE ASSOCIATION • On the low side is the issue of unpaid association dues by members, despite general waivers of past bills before 2005. This is very discouraging. If dues were paid regularly and promptly, the association would be stronger and better in activities than we are today. I have submitted debt recovery proposals to the committee of Deans for all the very many debtors in the ivory towers.
I have also defended a memo at the Veterinary Council of Nigeria asking the Directors of Veterinary Services to emulate the Veterinarians in the employment of Federal Department of Livestock whose dues are deducted from source and credited to NVMA Bank accounts. NEC also deeply appreciate the efforts of Borno State branch, NVRI Vom, FUNAB Abeokuta, Yobe State branch, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
We also appreciate the promise of Taraba and a few other states that have approached the secretariat to discuss the strategies to offset their debts. The response of many chapters to the levies for the purchase of NVMA Bus is zero. NEC frowns at the attitude of many members who have continued to enjoy the benefits from our collective struggles to shore up their salaries and yet they are refusing to pay their meagre annual dues and they would also not pay congress dues, nor attend same. This is most inconsiderate. The only way to demonstrate your appreciation for the association is to be active and pay up all dues, without much prompting.
BREWING NEW CHALLENGES • A) BILL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ANIMAL HEALTH AND HUSBANDRY TECHNOLOGISTS COUNCIL: • This bill has passed a second reading in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. (Oral explanations would be offered here for strategic reasons). • (B) ACTIVITIES OF NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ANIMAL SCIENCE (NIAS): • Issues of feed quality control and new curriculum (Oral explanations would also be offered for strategic reasons)
(C) STOPPAGE OF PAYMENT OF CONMESS IN SOME STATES: • NEC has been inundated with complaints of stoppage of payments of CONMESS in some states or controversies now surround the payment in some other states. Investigation has confirmed that the challenge is arising from the operational attitudes of many veterinarians in these states. The states concerned have confirmed their willingness to comply with the various circulars on CONMESS and parity.
Their grouse has been the justification for the continuous payments where the Veterinarians completely shy away from rendering the services that qualify them for CONMESS. Our appeal is that members should be more responsible to the dictates of their employment and jealously guard the opportunities available in the payment of CONMESS, which is the envy of all other stakeholders in the livestock industry.
(D) STOPPAGE OF PAYMENT OF CONMESS IN SOME ORGANIZATIONS: • A similar situation reported above for some states have also reared its ugly heads in some establishments. Nigerian Security and Civili Defense Corps approached us early in the year and we intervened and got the payment restored with arrears paid. The surprise has been the internal challenge within the system by their senior colleagues who continue to interprete the circular to the disadvantage of younger colleagues who are now been discriminated against in the payment. We are still working on this.
(16) THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. • DR GANI ENAHORO. • NVMA PRESIDENT.
