Urgent Call for Better Pay for Laboratory Workers in Oyo

During the 2026 World Laboratory Day event held in Iseyin, Oyo State, stakeholders called on the Federal Government and the Oyo State government to enhance the remuneration of laboratory workers. Taslim Owonikoko, the Chairman of the Association of Analytical and Clinical Laboratory Directors (AACLD), emphasized that inadequate pay is driving laboratory professionals abroad, which threatens the growth of health, manufacturing, and educational institutions in Nigeria.

Dr. Femi Oyediran, Chief Executive Officer of Lab21 Services Limited, stressed the importance of regulating sachet water production, linking it to the spread of waterborne diseases such as typhoid and lead poisoning. He noted that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has not adequately monitored sachet water manufacturers, leading to significant public health risks.

The stakeholders highlighted that approximately 1.1 million premature deaths annually could be prevented in low and middle-income countries through better health practices and regulations.