Rejoinder To Misleading Press Release By
NISLT Affliates: Clarifying The
Jurisdiction Of MLSCN AND NISLT. Setting The Record Straight.
The attention of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria
, AMLSN, has been drawn to a press release issued by a group styling itself
as “Concerned Graduates of Science Laboratory Technology (SLT),” in Nigeria
which baseless allegations were made against the Medical Laboratory
Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) following the lawful regulatory
exercise on a facility operating under the guise of “Day by Day Laboratory.”
A statement by the Acting National President,- Alhaji Bukar Musa, and Secretary, Comrade Abdulsalam Yakubu said as the legally recognized professional Association under MLSCN, the leadership are compelled to set the records straight for the benefit of the public,
stakeholders, and Government authorities that:
The Legal Framework
1. Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) was established
by Act 11, 2003 of the National Assembly with the exclusive statutory
mandate to regulate the practice of Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria.
Its powers include the inspection, accreditation, licensing, monitoring, and
regulation of all clinical diagnostic laboratories in both public and private
health sectors across Nigeria. MLSCN also has the authority to approve
and regulate training institutions for Medical Laboratory Scientists,
Technicians, and Assistants, ensuring professional competence and
quality laboratory services in the health sector.
2. Nigeria Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) on the other
hand, was established by Act 12, 2003 of the National Assembly with a
different and distinct mandate: to regulate the practice and training of
science laboratory technologists in scientific, industrial, research,
agricultural, educational, and allied settings. The law does not empower
NISLT to regulate, license, or accredit clinical diagnostic laboratories in
Nigeria.
Furthermore, members of NISLT are not listed as part of the recognized
manpower for health under Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Clarifying the Misrepresentation.
The assertion by the so-called “Concerned Graduates of SLT” that NISLT
has the legal authority to regulate diagnostic medical laboratories is false,
misleading, and dangerous to public health.
Any individual or facility
registered under NISLT but operating a diagnostic medical laboratory is
engaging in quackery, which is illegal and punishable under Nigerian law.
Only MLSCN has the statutory powers to seal, accredit, or sanction
medical diagnostic laboratories in Nigeria. NISLT’s scope, by law, is
limited to general science laboratory practice (education, research,
industry, and related fields), not clinical diagnostics.
The Need for Professional Boundaries
For the avoidance of doubt:
a. MLSCN regulates medical laboratory scientists and the practice of
medical laboratory science within the healthcare sector.
While, NISLT regulates science laboratory technologists outside the
healthcare diagnostic space. This distinction is clear in both Act 11, 2003 and Act 12, 2003 and has been repeatedly affirmed by relevant authorities,
including the Federal Ministry of Health.
Our Position
We therefore state emphatically:
1. The action taken by MLSCN in sealing “Day by Day Laboratory” was
lawful and within its jurisdiction.
2. The subsequent act of unsealing the facility by NISLT’s affiliate
(ASLTON, Delta State chapter) was illegal, reckless, and contemptuous of
the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
3. NISLT must immediately confine itself to the scope of Act 12, 2003 and
desist from any further encroachment into the medical diagnostic
laboratory space, which remains the exclusive jurisdiction of MLSCN.
Fundamental Questions for NISLT and SLT Practitioners
In the interest of clarity and for the enlightenment of the public, we pose
the following questions to NISLT and its affiliates. These questions are
important in exposing the inconsistencies in the misleading claims being
circulated:
1. SLT curriculum has 8 tracks or specializations, namely Biology
Technology,
Chemistry
Technology,
Biochemistry
Technology,
Physics/Electronics
Technology,
Geology
Technology,
Chemical/Petroleum Technology, Physiology/Pharmacology Technology
and Microbiology Technology. Which of these tracks qualifies them to
practice Medical Laboratory Science?
If those who have degrees in these areas do not practice MLS, how can
people who trained as Technologists in other people’s disciplines practice
what their masters do not engage in?
2. What national or international documents or law recognizes and
classifies SLT people as equivalent to Medical Laboratory Scientists
anywhere in the world?
3. According to the NUC CCMAS document, the principle of SLT
programme is to train Technologists who will provide technical assistance in the areas of science, agriculture and environment. Why have they
abandoned their role of providing technical assistance to their masters in the various fields of science and now want to engage in medical
laboratory services?
4. Since all health professionals have international equivalent and
comparable qualifications and licensure, which group of health
professionals are the SLT people equivalent to, and which country in the
world recognizes SLT as health professionals?
We invite NISLT and its affiliates to provide honest and evidence-based
answers to these questions in the public domain, including open platforms
such as professional conferences, academic discussions, and social media
(e.g., Twitter), where facts can be scrutinized openly.
Conclusion
The health and safety of Nigerians cannot be compromised by turf
encroachments or jurisdictional overreach.
We call on the Federal Government, security agencies, and the general
public to disregard the misleading claims of the so-called “Concerned
Graduates of SLT” and to support MLSCN in the lawful execution of its
mandate. As professionals committed to quality healthcare delivery, we
urge NISLT and its affiliates to respect the boundaries of the law and focus
on their statutory responsibilities rather than misleading their members of the public.
Likewise, the Kogi State branch chairman of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Comrade Obajemu Samuel has condemned the act in its entirety and hopes the critical stakeholders like the the Minister of Health and the State Commissioners for Health respectively will join MSLCN to collectively curb this quackery and menace to the well being of the society.
