The Nigerian Dental Therapists’ Association (NDTA) has raised strong objections to the ongoing recruitment process for the position of Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Dental Therapists Registration Board of Nigeria (DThRBN), citing what it described as grave irregularities and lack of transparency allegedly orchestrated by some officials within the Federal Ministry of Health.
In a press statement released on Wednesday and signed by the National Secretary of the association, Mr. Anugwor Chinedu, the NDTA decried what it termed “glaring administrative injustice,” stating that certain individuals within the Ministry are manipulating the selection process to impose their preferred candidates, in clear violation of the established guidelines for the appointment of heads of federal agencies.
The statement reads in part, “The association strongly condemns the clandestine tactics and administrative maneuvering being employed by some Ministry staff in a bid to foist their handpicked candidates on the Board. This level of insincerity and procedural sabotage undermines the integrity of the entire process.”
According to the NDTA, the interview and examination phases of the recruitment exercise were marred by inconsistencies and favoritism, with credible reports suggesting that some applicants were given undue advantage. The association also criticized what it described as the sudden and unjustified decision to reconduct assessment examinations for certain candidates, interpreting it as a ploy to sideline the Acting Registrar, Mrs. Isegen Aderonke Shakeerat, who was only recently appointed to the position.
While acknowledging the importance of a competitive selection process, the NDTA insisted that fairness, inclusiveness, and national character must not be compromised. The association emphasized that Mrs. Shakeerat should be allowed to serve in acting capacity for a minimum of six months in line with standard civil service transition procedures, before any substantive appointment is made.
Furthermore, the group demanded the immediate cancellation of the current recruitment exercise, calling instead for a fresh and transparent process that would reflect due process and equity. To ensure impartiality, the NDTA proposed that the recruitment be handled by an independent body, devoid of interference from current or past officials of the DThRBN who may have vested interests.
The association also appealed for equitable consideration of candidates from underrepresented geopolitical zones, warning against marginalization and regional dominance in federal appointments. It urged the Minister of Health and the Minister of State for Health to urgently wade into the matter and restore credibility to the process.
“If our legitimate concerns are ignored and this manipulation is allowed to stand, we will be left with no choice but to mobilize our members across the country for a peaceful protest scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2025,” the NDTA warned.
This development comes amid growing scrutiny over recruitment practices in regulatory agencies, with stakeholders across the healthcare sector calling for reforms that promote meritocracy, transparency, and national cohesion.