Pharmacists under the aegis of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria have hailed the Federal Government of Nigeria on the Executive Order on support for Local Content in public procurement. The Executive Order which authorized all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to source at least a minimum of not less than 40% of procurement of goods from local manufacturers was signed on May 18, 2017 by the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

PSN noted that the federal government deserves commendation for deeming it fit to include locally manufactured medicines in the Executive Order as specified in its Section 4F of the order. This move will surely give a boost to pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria by guaranteeing adequate medicines supply for our local needs as well as export that will earn foreign currency for the economy.

PSN urged the players in the pharmaceutical companies to exploit this window of opportunity with all seriousness. Doing this will place the pharma industry on a pedestal where it will be able to contribute its own quota to the growth of the economy by providing employment opportunities to the teeming Nigerian youths.

On the other hand, PSN is appealing to the government to operate this policy thrust with sincerity of purpose by ensuring that companies are paid promptly by MDAs after they make supplies to them. In recent past government parastatals had been frustrating transactions between them and private players with huge burden of debts for supplies coupled with bureaucracy and corruption endemic in the system when payments are to be made.

In addition, the operating environments for the pharma industry need to be made more conducive with improvement in infrastructure, cheap loan facilities and a regime of tax holidays as we have been canvassing all along.

Finally, PSN as a prime stakeholder wishes to pledge our continued commitment towards the realization of sustainable access to affordable and quality medicines to Nigerians.

Pharm. Ahmed I Yakasai, FPSN Pharm Gbolagade Iyiola

President, PSN National Secretary



https://aiyakasai./2017/05/26/psn-lauds-federal-government-on-executive-order-granting-minimum-of-40-procurement-for-locally-manufactured-goods/