🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Laboratory workers advocate for better pay and improved water quality regulation in Oyo State
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Laboratory workers in research, testing, calibration, schools, and manufacturing sectors urged the Federal and Oyo State Governments to enhance their remuneration and address the poor regulation of sachet water production in Iseyin and Oke-Ogun areas of Oyo State. This call was made during the 2026 World Laboratory Day in Iseyin, organized by Lab21 Services Limited and the Association of Analytical and Calibration Laboratory Directors. Participants attributed the rise in waterborne diseases, lead poisoning, and typhoid-related deaths to the negligence of regulatory bodies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON. Taslim Owonikoko, Chairman of the event and Chief Executive Officer of BEREKOTRY Ltd, emphasized the need for governments to prioritize laboratory workers' pay to curb the migration of professionals abroad, highlighting their essential role in health, manufacturing, and education. Femi Oyediran, event organizer and CEO of BEREKOTRY Ltd, called for a review of regulatory and monitoring systems for consumables, particularly sachet water, noting that current NAFDAC and SON tests for manufacturers last two years without further checks. He stressed that regular checks are crucial, as water contamination has been linked to many deadly diseases. Oyediran also advocated for improved collaboration among health sector stakeholders to strengthen global health security and ensure human, animal, env
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