The member representing Langtang North in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Nanbol Listick Daniel, has called for the immediate removal of the Provost and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science Technology (FCMLST), Jos, Prof. Sunday N. Etukudoh.
The lawmaker, who also chairs the House Committee on Labor and Security and serves as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Health, made this call during a press briefing at the state house of assembly in Jos.
(FCMLST) in ,has historically Jos Plateau State been an essential The Federal college of Medical laboratory Science and technology of Nigeria establishment for the education and regulation of medical laboratory professionals in Nigeria.
Over the years, the college has played a pivotal role in training experts in medical laboratory science, a field that is crucial for accurate medical diagnoses and the overall quality of healthcare outcomes.
However, in recent times, the institution has encountered a range of administrative difficulties, regulatory oversights, and serious allegations of mismanagement, prompting concerns regarding its governance and compliance with public service regulations, several persons have raised alarm on how Etukudoh has turn the college into his personal business bragging that no one can remove him from office until he decides to leave, it was also allege that Etukudoh has been milking the school, and has bribe his way through anytime a petition is brought to the ministry he has people there who he pays heavily to make sure such petition so get to the appropriate person.
Dr Etukudoh has been facing criminal trails being prosecuted by the EFCC for over 16 years in different courts he also and have cases with the ICPC in Bauchi state all corrupt cases, he is always under investigation and the civil service rule is clear on that that he should be suspended to give way for proper investigation this is what is delaying his cases both at the federal high court and state high in Jos, do it mean that the ministry are not aware of this, information available EFCC has written for him to be suspended to give way for proper investigation and prosecution, but all this to no avial because of his allies that always protect him.
At the heart of these issues is Dr. Sunday N.Etukudo, the Provost and CEO of the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science (FCMLST). A prominent figure in the medical education landscape, Dr. Etukudoh has managed the institution for several decades, and should give way for others.
Dr Etukudoh nearly five-decade career is distinguished by his efforts to elevate the FCMLST into one of Nigeria’s leading monotechnic institutions for medical laboratory science. Nonetheless, his leadership has increasingly faced scrutiny due to claims of corruption, misconduct, and negligence of regulatory standards.
Critics assert that Dr. Etukudoh’s extended tenure contravene civil service regulations, which mandate that public servants should retire from leadership positions after eight years of service.
Despite having reached the statutory retirement age, he was reappointed by Former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2022 for a second term, intensifying allegations of irregularities surrounding his continued tenure.
Civil society organizations and stakeholders have expressed grave concerns, noting that Dr. Etukudoh has held leadership roles for over 17 years while being in public service for more than 46 years.
They argue that this prolonged leadership undermines initiatives to introduce new management and innovative ideas within the institution.
Hon. Nanbol, a trained medical laboratory scientist and expert in health legislation, voiced concerns over the management of the institution under Prof. Etukudoh’s leadership. He argued that the Provost’s performance has been below average, noting that the institution has deteriorated over the years. He emphasized that the provost had overstayed his tenure, which he believes has hindered the institution from running at its full potential.
“The public service rule is very clear. After serving for a certain number of years, an individual should be suspended and properly investigated.
Prof. Etukudoh has been in office for 17 years, well beyond the recommended tenure. His leadership has caused the institution to suffer, and his recent reappointment was an error that needs to be corrected,” Hon. Nanbol stated.
The Plateau lawmaker also raised concerns over the accreditation and legitimacy of some of the programs being run by the institution, especially the HND programs that, according to him, are against the regulations of the National Universities Commission (NUC). He expressed fears that parents and students may be misled into enrolling in unapproved programs.
In his statement, Hon. Nanbol reiterated that the Ministry of Health, which oversees the institution, should intervene immediately. He urged the ministry to suspend Prof. Etukudoh and conduct a thorough investigation into the institution’s operations.
He also called on the NUC and relevant regulatory bodies to scrutinize the qualifications of individuals holding academic positions and ensure proper oversight of the institution.
The FCMLST, established in 1954 by the Federal Ministry of Health, has been a key player in providing middle-level manpower for the health sector. However, according to Hon. Nanbol, its potential has not been fully realized due to issues of mismanagement and lack of proper governance under the current leadership.
The lawmaker concluded by urging the authorities to take swift action to restore the integrity of the college and ensure that it operates in line with the appropriate standards and regulations.
