The Association of University Academic Medical Laboratory Scientists (AUAMLS) has described offering Medical Laboratory Science as a course at the Polytechnic or its affiliation to any University as nothing but an act of illegality.
The Association in a statement jointly signed by Prof. M.F Olaniyan and Dr. K.M. Elechi Amadi, the President and National Secretary respectively faulted the offering of MLS as a course at Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state or its affiliation to any University in the Country.
It was stated that the Medical Laboratory Science programme is not administered through Distance Learning or affiliations. Therefore, no University is allowed to affiliate with any Polytechnic for the purpose of offering a Medical Laboratory Science programme.
“The medical laboratory science in any University is accredited by both the National University Commission and Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.
The National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions Act CAP E3 LFN 2004 does not empower the NUC to accredit any programme in the Polytechnic.
“We are not aware of any Law in Nigeria that empowers any polytechnic, including Ibom Polytechnic, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to run Medical Laboratory Science programme, or that empowers any university, including Gregory University, Uturu, Abia state, to affiliate any polytechnic to offer Medical Laboratory Science programme.
“Therefore, the existence of such programmes anywhere in Nigeria amounts to fraud and illegality.
“We are, therefore, calling on the Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and the Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, to withdraw the said document, and offer a public apology to our Association, for portraying Medical Laboratory Science in bad light.
The public is also advised to seek clarification about the Medical Laboratory Science programme from the NUC and MLSCN. Anyone who patronizes such illegal programmes does so at their own risk”
