Posted on: Wed 10-09-2025

BEYOND NEGLECT: OUR ADVOCACY IS FORGING A TRANSFORMED PROFESSION

To all members of the Reformed Forum of Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria and to every one of our prospective members, I extend my greetings. This message is for those who feel misinformed or neglected, especially those who have not yet officially associated with our professional body. It is often the case that individuals outside of our association, who do not attend our national and state-level conferences and events, miss crucial clarifications. I am confident that this message will clarify our position and reassure you of the hope and immense progress we have made.

It is time to shift our focus from a narrative of neglect to one of immense progress and opportunity. The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) is not our adversary; it is our most vital partner in securing a better future. Our professional journey, much like life itself, has its highs and lows, but we must not allow ourselves to be demoralized. Instead, let us embrace a steadfast, adaptive, and enduring spirit in the face of every challenge. I can confidently state that the Reformed Forum of Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria (RFPTN) has made impacts whose history will not be forgotten by members and stakeholders in the pharmacy profession. This is an association that focuses on genuine emancipation with a clear objective of welfare optimization of members. The evidence of our collective achievements are numerous.

Our Achievements: A Record of Tangible Progress

The landscape for pharmacy technicians is transforming before our very eyes. The PCN’s efforts, fueled by the relentless advocacy of the RFPTN, are yielding landmark achievements that are already defining the future of Pharmacy Technicians.

The PCN Act of 2022: This stands as the most significant legislative victory for our profession. The new Act was signed into law by the past administration on August 16, 2022. It formally empowers the PCN to regulate the training, education and practice of pharmacy in "all aspects and ramifications," which includes pharmacy technicians, thereby securing a legitimate and legal place for Pharmacy Technicians within Nigeria’s healthcare system. It also enlisted the inclusion of three (3) Pharmacy Technicians Representatives at the Governing Council of the PCN. It provides the bedrock for all future advancements and ensures comprehensive inclusivity of Pharmacy Technicians in the affairs within the pharmaceutical sector.

A Clear Path Forward: Ending Academic Stagnation and Ensuring Public Safety: Academic and career stagnation has long posed a significant challenge. This is a major area where we have ceaselessly advocated, recognizing the fact that many destinies were or have been tied to this advancement challenge. Our specific advocacy has been the creation of clear academic advancement pathways for pharmacy Technicians and to limit the handling of medicines and pharmaceutical products to only Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, a crucial step to protect the public from the dangers posed by unqualified individuals. This is a direct response to the recent trend where first school leavers, SSCE holders, and many other non-core pharmacy professionals handle drugs at different levels. This advocacy has now yielded a monumental breakthrough.In a landmark move, the Federal Ministry of Education has officially approved the termination of all new admissions into the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Pharmaceutical Technology. This decision as announced by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on August 28, 2025, reinforces the official career path for pharmacy professionals in Nigeria. It confirms that the only approved cadres in the pharmacy profession, as contained in the Scheme of Service of the Federal Government of Nigeria, remain Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician. The National Diploma (ND) Pharmacy Technician program will continue as the approved sub-cadre qualification, affirming the legitimacy and clear path for our profession. This policy has been publicly supported by key groups like the Council of HND Holders for the Advancement of Polytechnic Education in Nigeria (COHAPEN) and the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), who praised the move as a crucial step towards safeguarding our training standards and ensuring the profession's integrity.

Additionally, the strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the PCN and the NBTE officially recognizes our training as a National Diploma, is a status now that should be formally accepted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for Direct Entry Admission into universities. This is a direct result of our advocacy, which persisted despite initial roadblocks from JAMB policy. Recall that in the past, we made several efforts by writing to JAMB's Registrar and Executive Secretary of NBTE for a courtesy visit but we were not given attention, but we believed they understood our intentions.

Advocating for Advanced Specialization: Our advocacy efforts have also extended to championing a clear pathway for professional specialization, which we intend to lead to the designation of Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (Adv. CPhT). This initiative aims to establish specialized areas of practice, such as Sterile Compounding, Non-Sterile Compounding, Hazardous Drug Handling, and Medication Therapy Management, Oncology or Chemotherapy, etc. The goal is to create a tiered system of professional competence that not only recognizes and rewards advanced skills but also provide a formal career progression framework. This will ensure that our members are equipped with the expertise to meet the complex demands of modern healthcare, further enhancing our value within the pharmacy ecosystem.

Standardized Professional Examination: To align our standards with international best practices, the PCN introduced the National Pre-Certification Examination (NPCE) in 2017. This exam unifies pharmacy technicians professional examination, ensuring consistent quality across the board. In a major step toward embracing modern technology, the NPCE will be conducted via a Computer-Based Test (CBT) for the first time on September 10th and 11th, 2025. Success at the NPCE leads to an award of Certified Pharmacy Technician Certificate, alongside Certificate of professional registration and first Annual License during an Induction Ceremony conducted by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria prior to practice as a Pharmacy Technician. This systemic improvement marks a giant leap forward in our professional evolution.

Growth in Training Institutions: Our recognized role as a vital component in the institutionalization of good pharmacy practices has directly led to an increase in the number of accredited schools and colleges of Health Technology for the training of pharmacy technicians. The PCN has also increased the Pharmacy Technicians admission quotas, ensuring a steady supply of well-trained professionals to meet the nation's healthcare needs. It is our hope that in the near future, there will be a sufficient number of pharmacy technicians to serve the nation's healthcare needs at every nook and cranny, thereby technically bringing quackery to an end and unprofessionals in the handling of medicinal products in Nigeria.

Three-Tiered Accreditation and Entrepreneurship: Our advocacy also led to the recognition of Pharmacy Technicians preferences in entrepreneurship. The PCN succeeded in enlisting Pharmacy Technicians as an integral part of a three-tiered accreditation system, placing them at the very top—the apex of the system. This framework grants Pharmacy Technicians a wider scope of practice and greater responsibility, officially repositioning pharmacy technicians as critical partners in primary healthcare delivery. Furthermore, many non-governmental organizations, including Integrat-E and GSK are in partnership with the PCN towards the implementation of the pilot three-tiered accreditation system in some states like Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Lagos, Borno amongst others. Let's be optimistic that the accreditation system will soon cover all states.

PPMV Pre-Licensing Examination Exemption: In a major show of collaboration, the PCN Registrar, Pharm. Babashehu Ibrahim Ahmed, through our advocacy, has approved the exemption of pharmacy technicians from the Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendor (PPMV) pre-licensing exams. This vote of confidence allows Pharmacy Technicians to practice legally with just a premise inspection and approval. The Registrar has also directed PCN state officers to give pharmacy technicians preferential treatment for PPMV registration and approvals. As a result, the difference is now very clear compared to what was obtainable in the past, where pharmacy technicians were subjected to the same pre-licensing examination with holders of first school leaving certificates, without regard to the professional qualifications of the Pharmacy Technicians.

Embracing Technology: Our roles are expanding with the integrated digital tools like electronic health records, information management systems, and pharmacy management systems in the healthcare sector. The Pharmacy Council has also incorporated a Computerized Pharmaceutical Information System (CoPhIS) to streamline licensing and data management. In the past, we advocated for the PCN to incorporate an online licensure portal for Pharmacy Technicians which will reduce the waiting time for release of license from the headquarters and also serve as a portal for verification of registered pharmacy technicians. If the PCN could implement this, Pharmacy Technicians can automatically get their temporary copies of license immediately on filling of renewal application at comfort of home. Additionally, the PCN's efforts to regulate online pharmacy services will further define pharmacy technicians’ role in this digital age. This will equally open up several opportunities for pharmacy technicians who are versatile in IT and digital knowledge. I believe that the PCN will incorporate the engagement of pharmacist and Pharmacy Technicians in the online pharmacy services.

Our Advocacy in Action: A Unified Voice Delivering Results

We at RFPTN, have been relentlessly advocating for our members, and our efforts are delivering real-world results evidenced in the briefs below:

High-Level Collaboration at National Conferences: Our national conferences have always provided platforms for engagement and have showcased the commitment of top dignitaries. The consistent attendance of key figures—including the Registrar of the PCN, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the Chairman of the Governing Council of the PCN, the Director of Education and Training, and the Director of Integrat-E, Past and present PSN States Chairmen at our events proves their dedication to pharmacy Technicians cause.

1st Annual National Conference (Abuja, 2024): This was RFPTN’s inaugural conference that focused on the theme "Navigating the Evolving Regulatory Landscape; Pharmacy Technicians as Agents of Change," underscoring the new realities brought by the PCN Act of 2022 and the need for pharmacy Technicians to thrive within this framework. The conference also addressed recognition of Pharmacy Technicians globally as key players in pharmacy practice. 

2nd Annual National Conference (Lagos, 2025): Building on this momentum, the Lagos conference was themed “Revitalization of Pharmacy Technician Profession in Nigeria; Exploring Opportunities for Growth and Development.” It was here that we took a monumental step by establishing a minimum salary benchmark for new pharmacy Technician entrants in job placements at the private sector. We also advocated for greater representation in the PCN's governing council and for at least two pharmacy technicians to be appointed to each PCN state and zonal office across the country. The Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria had promised the RFPTN Leadership in the past to facilitate employment of more Pharmacy Technicians and we are not relenting by regularly reminding him of this.

Expanded Employment Opportunities: Through our collaboration with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, we have secured the employment of pharmacy technicians in many states, including Adamawa, Lagos, with Plateau State Government (currently recruiting Pharmacy Technicians) to its Primary Healthcare Development Agency amongst others.. In the past, the PCN had supported us on this advocacy by extension to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, which is why we currently see pharmacy technicians being included in many advertisements of the PHCDA in various States. Our advocacy has also led to a significant increase in the employment of pharmacy technicians in community pharmacies, a direct result of our association’s efforts anchored by the PCN's strong stance on encouraging owners of community pharmacies to employ Pharmacy Technicians. This advocacy extends to all levels of healthcare, including the military and paramilitary. We have also recently extended our advocacy to the Nigeria Police Force for the inclusion of pharmacy technicians in their recruitment exercise and for the proper placement of our existing colleagues in it's force.

Inclusivity and Representation: Our hard work has paid off with tangible gains. Three of our members have participated in at least two PCN Governing Council meetings, and two of our members are currently on the PCN's payroll, serving in official capacities. We continue to push for more opportunities and have received positive promises from the incumbent Registrar to ensure that the council employs more pharmacy technicians. We continue praying for the Almighty to strengthen his administration to secure this spot for us to remember him the same way we cannot afford to forget Pharm. N.E.A. Mohammed.

Standardizing Pharmacy Technician’s Worth: At our 2nd Annual National Conference in Lagos, we took a monumental step by establishing a minimum salary benchmark for new entrants into the profession by job placement in the private sectors. We came up with this due to the irregularities in salaries paid to pharmacy technicians across the nation. It would be clear identifying non compliant pharmacy technicians, receiving salaries below this benchmark as non-members of RFPTN and Technicians who never participated in our conference or events at national or states levels thereby lagging in knowledge of our current disposition.

International Networking: RFPTN is consistently making efforts to establish connections with other international Pharmacy Technicians organizations and Associations, which we believe will enhance global recognition and networking. I want to announce to us that recently the international Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has fully incorporated Pharmacy Technician in their list of membership opening more opportunities for pharmacy Technicians to participate in both virtual and physical activities. Many of our members have acquired certification from their digital activities.

Our Challenges and Our Path Forward

While we celebrate our progress, I must acknowledge the remaining challenges. It is a matter of great concern that, despite an official appointment, the federal government has not yet inaugurated the chairmanship of the Governing Council. This has severely limited policy review and negatively impacted the PCN's efficiency. However, we are optimistic that having committed this to prayer for the timely inauguration, we also call on the PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, (a friend to Pharmacy Technicians) lend his support to advocate for this cause. We are confident that our good-spirited President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who found Pharm. Mrs. Hajiya Wosilat Giwa, worthy of this position, will not hesitate to equip her with the authority she needs.

Pharmacy Technicians training institutions must fully support these PCN efforts. They need to formalize their status with JAMB, which will give each Pharmacy Technicians student a JAMB registration number essential for direct entry. Furthermore, these institutions should be flexible and supportive in regularizing past graduates’ admissions with JAMB and must maintain the admission quota specified by the PCN and NBTE. PCN and NBTE should consider writing to JAMB's Registrar to intimate him of the HME’s approval and for enlistment of National Diploma Pharmacy Technician on JAMB's direct entry application portal. PCN should equally write to facilities of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Nigerian universities approving Pharmacy Technicians Direct Entry Admission quota. RFPTN will forever be indebted to PCN if these are done.

A Call to Action: Unity Is Our Strength

With all these laudable initiatives in place, it is more important than ever for every pharmacy technician to align with the RFPTN and support the PCN in meeting its core mandate as a federal government agency. We are excited to announce that on October 21, 2025, we will be celebrating World Pharmacy Technicians Day. The RFPTN NEC will soon publish the theme for the 2025 World Pharmacy Technicians Day Celebration event. This is a monumental occasion for our profession, and I expect every Pharmacy Technician to join the RFPTN during this time to celebrate our collective achievements and strengthen our unity.

Fostering Professional Relationships

By virtue of training and professional relationships, we know that every member of the healthcare team is an essential component. No one should look down on another; instead, we must all work to develop strong interpersonal skills and mutual respect. This collaborative spirit is the key to institutionalizing good pharmacy practices and achieving the best patient treatment outcomes. Our shared vision for the pharmaceutical landscape in Nigeria hinges on a strong, symbiotic relationship between pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The pharmacy technician roles are distinct but complementary, and our combined efforts are essential for delivering comprehensive patient care. We must recognize that the success of the pharmacy profession is a collective responsibility. By fostering open communication, mutual respect, and a spirit of partnership, we can create an environment where both cadres will thrive, leading to more efficient healthcare delivery and better outcomes for all Nigerians.

It is a matter of great concern that so many pharmacy technicians have not yet officially registered and identified with RFPTN. This leaves them uninformed about the critical updates that are shaping our future. To benefit from this progress, every pharmacy technician must take responsibility by joining the association and staying engaged.

We will continue to advocate for a standardized salary of our members, a clear career framework, and increased representation and recognition. 

The fate of pharmacy technicians in Nigeria is not predetermined; it is being shaped by our collective efforts. Let us work together with the PCN to build a future where pharmacy technicians are not just recognized, but are empowered to reach their full professional potentials.

By SHAGBA HUMPHREY T., 

National President, Reformed Forum of Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria

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