The Veterinary Practising Premises Registration Regulation 2018 was passed into law by the Oyo State House of Assembly in violation of National Assembly legislation, according to the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN).

The association referred to the state lawmakers' passage of the law as an insult to the federal government's sole authority over drugs.

Adebayo Gbadamosi, the Oyo State ACPN chairman, made these statements on Friday at a press conference in Ibadan, the state's capital.

The Veterinary Practising Premises Registration Regulation 2018, which governs the sale, storage, and dispensing of animal drugs in the state, was previously passed into law by the Oyo State House of Assembly, according to information obtained by The Daily Post.

The Daily Post recalls that the Oyo State Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, claimed on Monday that it had sealed FinRel Pharmacy Supermarket and Bakery in Ibadan for violating the Oyo State Veterinary Practising Premises Registration Regulation 2018.

But Gbadamosi, while addressing journalists, insisted that some sections of the law passed by the state House of Assembly are an affront to the federal government’s exclusive power on drugs.

While describing the action of the ministry as illegal, Gbadamosi explained that only the federal government, through the National Assembly, has the power to legislate and determine who sells drugs, be it to human beings or animals.

Gbadamosi, flanked by the state chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Oguntoye Adegboyega, and other members of the association, called on the police and other security agencies in the state not to allow the ministry to use them to promote illegality.

He maintained that the harassment of members of the association by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development could lead to a crisis in the state.

While speaking further, Gbadamosi called on the state governor, Seyi Makinde, to intervene on the matter.

Gbadamosi said: “It has become imperative that the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), a technical arm of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), address the general public on the unfortunate actions of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) through the official of the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the past few months, on the members of ACPN, using the Veterinary Practice Premises Registration Regulation 2018, a law passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly without due process of proper public hearing and inputs from various sectors of the state that the law would ultimately affect.

“Some sections of this law passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly are in affront to the National Assembly’s exclusive legislation, which cannot be subsumed under the Oyo State House of Assembly legislation.

“Drug matters, just like national security, are under exclusive federal government legislation, and this includes both human and animal medicines. It is only the National Assembly that has the right to legislate on such matters, and where any state dabbles in it, if the outcome is contrary to the National Assembly’s position, the provision of the National Assembly naturally supersedes. State’s Houses of Assembly have the power to legislate on matters on the concurrent legislative list, but in this case not drugs.”

He said further: “We are using this medium to appeal to His Excellency, Gov. Seyi Makinde, to call the director of veterinary services at the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Azeez, to order. Community pharmacists are resolute and trust in the outcome of the suit in court and may resort to self-help to defend ourselves if the Veterinary Council, in whatever guise, comes close to any of our premises without waiting for the outcome of the court henceforth.

“Also, we are calling on the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State and all other security agencies not to allow the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture to use them in achieving illegitimate purposes concerning our premises. As said, we are law-abiding and would comply with the outcome of the court once concluded.”