***NVMA Congress Declares ₦200,000 Minimum Salary for Private Sector Employment
***Sets Agenda for Livestock Revolution
61st NVMA Congress in Jalingo charts bold reforms for animal health, food security, national development
Nigeria’s Veterinarians have made a defining move to reclaim their central role in national health and food systems, as the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) concluded its 61st Annual National Congress and AGM in Jalingo, Taraba State, with far-reaching resolutions to reform animal health governance, strengthen food safety, and elevate professional standards across the country.
The three-day congress, themed “Animal Health, Food Safety and Security: Ensuring a Healthy and Productive Nigeria,” brought together hundreds of delegates — from veterinary experts and researchers to policymakers, private sector players, and students — to rethink the future of livestock management and public health.
Hosted at the Crest Resort, Jalingo, and tagged “Nature’s Gift 2025,” the event reflected a strong push for innovation, collaboration, and renewed national commitment to food system transformation.
In what many hailed as a milestone for professional equity, the Congress approved a minimum salary of ₦200,000 for veterinarians employed in private hospitals and clinics nationwide.
NVMA President, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, who presented the key policy proposals, described the move as “a step toward restoring the dignity of veterinary practice and ensuring professional welfare aligns with national standards.”
He lamented the underutilization of Nigeria’s vast livestock resources — estimated at over 400 million animals — due to inadequate veterinary presence at the grassroots, with many Local Government Areas lacking resident Veterinarians.
“Animal health is the foundation of food security and public health. Yet we are losing billions to preventable diseases,” Arokoyo said. “If properly harnessed, veterinary services can generate billions in GDP and create sustainable rural livelihoods.”
He called on the Federal Government to implement the 65-year retirement age for all healthcare workers, inclusive of Veterinarians, and urged states to ensure domestication of the new Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) to strengthen livestock governance in all the states of the federation
Dr. Arokoyo also urged the Government to declare a state of emergency on abattoirs, insisting that all slaughter operations should be conducted under proper veterinary supervision to protect public health.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State, Dr. Jonathan Wasa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, underscored the inseparable link between animal health, food safety, and economic resilience.
He outlined Niger State’s progress in transforming the livestock sector — including the employment of 21 Veterinarians and 27 technologists, the launch of Pasture and Grazing Reserve Development Programme, and the introduction of the Veterinary Inspection Permit and Trade Animal Movement Security (VIPTAMS) system for disease traceability and livestock movement control.
“Healthy animals mean healthy people and a healthy economy,” Bago said through his representative. “Our goal is to integrate animal, human, and environmental health — the true spirit of the One Health approach.”
He encouraged Veterinarians to take leadership positions in policy, governance, and investment, saying the profession has “the expertise and credibility to drive sustainable growth in agriculture and food security.”
The Congress also inaugurated a 33-member NVMA Think Tank to design a strategic roadmap for the future of the veterinary profession, spanning education, research, regulation, and global engagement.
Another highlight was the unveiling of the NVMA Lapel Pin, symbolizing the association’s renewed identity and commitment under the slogan: “Veterinarians: Safeguarding Animal and Public Health”
Deliberations at the technical plenaries zeroed in on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Scaling up Ruminant vaccination (Launch of GALVmed’s VITAL 2 Project), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and Zoonotic disease surveillance — all major threats to food production and human health.
Key recommendations included, Regular vaccination with quality, locally adapted vaccines, Rapid disease detection and containment response, Strict livestock movement control during outbreaks, Improved farm biosecurity and public awareness, Stronger surveillance systems and regional coordination and Regulation of antimicrobial use and enhanced farmer education.
Delegates unanimously endorsed the One Health framework, integrating veterinary, medical, and environmental health in disease prevention and control.
At the close of the congress, NVMA reaffirmed its commitment to positioning veterinary medicine as a cornerstone of national development.
In the communiqué signed by Dr. Grace Sabo Nok (Chairman), Dr. Abdulkadeer Umar Baba (Secretary), and Dr. James Clinton Shawulu (Member), the Association pledged to champion policies that ensure safe food, healthy animals, and a resilient economy.
“We move forward united in purpose, driven by science, and committed to a healthier, safer, and more productive Nigeria,” the communiqué concluded.
From the energy in Jalingo, one message stood out unmistakably — Nigeria’s Veterinarians are no longer content with the sidelines. They are stepping up as the nation’s first line of defence for health, food security, and sustainable growth.