The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, summoned the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Adekunle Salako, to explain the operations of the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja, with regard to allegations of financial misappropriation.
The Chairman, House Committee on Speciality Healthcare, Alex Egbona, issued the directive at an investigative hearing on the institution’s activities.
The resolution to investigate the activities of the institution was passed on May 7, 2025.
This is just as the lawmakers directed the committee to probe the National Universities Commission’s decision to halt academic activities at the college, the prolonged dormancy of the institution, and reported breaches of the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Act, 2021.
Egbona noted that the 10th House is focused on strengthening healthcare delivery through robust legislative intervention, hence the creation of the committee to oversee specialised health institutions, including those offering traditional and alternative medical services.
Established in 2008 by the federal government as an agency under the Ministry of Health, the college suspended academic operations in 2010 following NUC’s directive.
“Despite the shutdown of academic activities and suspension of its management, the college has continued to receive annual budgetary allocations, with capital and recurrent expenditures running into hundreds of millions of naira,” the Chairman stated.
He disclosed that the committee has received multiple petitions alleging financial mismanagement and unauthorised fund disbursement involving ministry officials and the college’s management.
Egbona also noted that the National Assembly enacted the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Establishment) Act in 2021 to provide a legal framework for the institution’s academic and professional pursuits in alternative medicine.
“Given the minister’s supervisory role over the college, he is expected to appear before the committee to provide a clear account of the institution’s current status, including the continued release of funds despite its non-operational state, academic closure, and failure to comply with its enabling Act,” he added.
