Reps to probe Abuja medical college’ financial dealings

By Msugh Ityokura

The House of Representatives is to investigate the operations and financial dealings of the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja, following the adoption of a motion to the effect during plenary, Wednesday

Sponsored by a lawmaker, Jonathan Gbefwi and four others, the motion raised concerns about the continued closure of the institution and alleged financial irregularities over the years.

Established in 2008 by the Federal Government based on a recommendation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the College was created as a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Health to advance the practice of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Nigeria.

The legal framework for its establishment is rooted in the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act, Cap. M8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which recognizes Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Osteopathy, and Chiropractic practices.

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In 2018, the government further expanded its efforts in this field by setting up the Department of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine under the Federal Ministry of Health to facilitate the integration of such practices into the national healthcare system.

While leading debate on the motion, Gbefwi recalled that the National Assembly passed the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Establishment) Act in 2021 to formalize the institution’s status and role in academic and professional development in the sector.

He however expressed concern that academic activities at the College have remained suspended since October 16, 2010, following a directive from the National Universities Commission (NUC) which shut down its degree programmes for lacking proper accreditation and approvals.

He further revealed that, despite the shutdown, the Federal Ministry of Health suspended the management of the College in 2011 and put in place an Interim Administrative Team which has continued to receive and spend capital and overhead funds running into hundreds of millions of naira over the past 13 years.

“In 2016, the government also appointed a staff member as Acting Head of Administration to oversee daily operations, despite the institution’s academic dormancy,” Gbefwi added.

He noted that there have been multiple petitions and counter-petitions from staff accusing officials of the Ministry and College management of financial misconduct, including unauthorized disbursement of funds, which have drawn the attention of anti-corruption agencies.

The lawmaker also decried the continued violation of the 2021 Act establishing the College, especially the appointment of a Sole Administrator, which he said contravenes the law.

“The House is alarmed by allegations of illegal staff suspensions, unpaid benefits, arbitrary dismissals, and fresh recruitments conducted without adherence to due process,” he stated.

The speaker Tajudeen Abbas who presides over plenary directed the House Committee on Specialty Healthcare to carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged financial mismanagement, administrative anomalies, prolonged closure of the College, and violations of the enabling Act.

The committee is also tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding the NUC’s closure order and the College’s continued non-operational status.