The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has approved a N200,000 minimum monthly salary for fresh veterinarians employed in private hospitals and clinics nationwide, marking a historic milestone in efforts to enhance professional welfare and strengthen the country’s food security and public health systems.
The resolution was among key outcomes of the 61st Annual National Congress and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association, held in Jalingo, Taraba State, under the theme ‘Animal Health, Food Safety and Security: Ensuring a Healthy and Productive Nigeria.’
The three-day congress tagged ‘Nature’s Gift 2025,’ drew hundreds of delegates, including veterinary experts, policymakers, private sector operators, researchers, and students.
It focused on repositioning veterinary medicine as a cornerstone of national development and a catalyst for agricultural transformation.
NVMA President, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, described the new minimum wage as a step toward restoring the dignity of veterinary practice and ensuring equity for professionals who play a vital role in safeguarding the nation’s food supply and public health.
‘Animal health is the foundation of food security and public health. Yet, we are losing billions to preventable animal diseases. If properly harnessed, veterinary services can generate billions in GDP and create sustainable rural livelihoods’, Arokoyo said.
He lamented that many of Nigeria’s over 400 million livestock remain underexploited due to inadequate veterinary coverage, noting that several Local Government Areas still lack resident veterinarians.
Dr. Arokoyo also urged the Federal Government to extend the 65-year retirement age for all healthcare professionals, including veterinarians, and called for the domestication of the new Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) across states to strengthen livestock governance and productivity.
He further called for the declaration of a state of emergency on abattoirs, stressing the need for all slaughter operations to 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, highlighted the state’s recent strides in livestock transformation.
He listed the employment of 21 veterinarians and 27 technologists, the launch of a Pasture and Grazing Reserve Development Programme, and the introduction of the Veterinary Inspection Permit and Trade Animal Movement Security (VIPTAMS) system, an innovation designed to strengthen livestock disease traceability and movement control.
‘Healthy animals mean healthy people and a healthy economy. Our goal is to integrate animal, human, and environmental health, the true spirit of the One Health approach’, Governor Bago said through his representative. ‘
He encouraged veterinarians to take up leadership roles in policymaking, governance, and investment, noting that the profession possesses the expertise and credibility needed to drive sustainable growth in agriculture and food systems.
Among other major highlights of the congress was the inauguration of a 33-member NVMA Think Tank, tasked with developing a strategic roadmap for advancing veterinary education, research, regulation, and international collaboration.
The association also unveiled the NVMA Lapel Pin, symbolizing a renewed professional identity under the slogan: ‘Veterinarians: Safeguarding Animal and Public Health.’
Technical plenaries focused on critical challenges facing Nigeria’s livestock and food sectors, including Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Scaling Up Ruminant Vaccination (GALVmed’s VITAL 2 Project), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and Zoonotic Disease Surveillance.
Delegates recommended a suite of reforms: regular vaccination with locally adapted vaccines, stricter livestock movement control during disease outbreaks, improved farm biosecurity, stronger surveillance systems, and farmer education on antimicrobial use.
The Congress also reaffirmed support for the One Health framework, which integrates veterinary, human, and environmental health in disease prevention and control.
In its closing communiqué, signed by Dr. Grace Sabo Nok (Chairman), Dr. Abdulkadeer Umar Baba (Secretary), and Dr. James Clinton Shawulu (Member), the NVMA pledged to champion policies that ensure safe food, healthy animals, and a resilient national economy.
‘We move forward united in purpose, driven by science, and committed to a healthier, safer, and more productive Nigeria,’ the communiqué stated.