NAAHHT seeks NASS intervention over retention of nomenclature
The Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists (NAAHHT), South-West Zone, has renewed its call on the National Assembly to re-pass and facilitate the presidential assent of its Enabling Bill, which it says has long been hindered by competing professional interests in the sector.
The appeal was made through a communiqué issued at the close of the association’s zonal congress held at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology (FCAH&PT), Ibadan, Oyo State. The communiqué, signed by Elder Victor Alamurin (Zonal Chairman) and Mr. Samuel Oluyemi (PRO), emphasized that professionals in the animal health subsector deserve autonomous recognition and regulatory backing—similar to the numerous professional regulatory bills passed in the human medical field.
The association reaffirmed its preferred nomenclature—Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists—and rejected attempts to subsume their identity under the Veterinary Paraprofessional label, which it believes undermines their unique scope of practice. NAAHHT also rejected provisions in the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN)’s amended act, which seeks to centralize regulatory authority over all animal health-related professions under the VCN.
Further, NAAHHT urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to approve B.Tech/B.Sc. degrees in Animal Health Technology in Nigerian universities to provide upward academic mobility for technologists. It also appealed to international bodies to collaborate directly with its national leadership for inclusive capacity-building initiatives that promote animal health and welfare.
In an administrative declaration, the association clarified that all dues and regulatory payments to state governments from its members would henceforth be remitted directly through NAAHHT, not through other professional associations such as the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA).
Source- Tribune
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
This advocacy push by the Animal Health Technologists reflects broader concerns about professional representation, regulation, and capacity development in Nigeria’s livestock health value chain.
- Strengthening animal health systems through professional clarity
Nigeria’s livestock sector can benefit greatly from a multi-tiered professional ecosystem—veterinarians, technologists, and animal health officers all have distinct roles. Ensuring regulatory clarity and legislative backing for technologists helps fill critical frontline gaps in disease surveillance, vaccination, and animal care. - Expanding educational pathways
The demand for B.Tech/B.Sc. in Animal Health Technology is aligned with modern workforce development goals. As animal protein consumption rises and livestock systems modernize, Nigeria will need well-trained mid-level animal health professionals to support food safety, productivity, and trade standards. - Implications for veterinary policy and collaboration
The tension between NAAHHT and the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) calls for balanced policy mediation. While standardization is key, exclusive regulatory control could marginalize essential contributors in the field. An inclusive regulatory model could foster better coordination without undermining autonomy. - Stakeholder engagement and decentralized funding
By asserting direct engagement with state governments and international partners, NAAHHT is positioning itself as a responsible and accountable stakeholder. This opens doors for localized interventions, especially in disease control, livestock extension, and rural veterinary outreach.
Stakeholders—especially state ministries of agriculture, livestock investors, academia, and donor agencies—should recognize the strategic role Animal Health Technologists play. Legislative support, academic recognition, and inclusive governance are essential to strengthen Nigeria’s livestock health architecture and promote sustainable agri-food systems.
