Victor Ezeja
The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has resolved to embark on a seven-day warning strike from Monday, 18th November, to Sunday, 24th November 2024, over the failure of the Federal Government to meet its demands.
This was contained in a communique signed by Prof. Mohammad Aminu Mohammad, MDCAN President and Prof. Daiyabu Alhaji Ibrahim, Secretary General, and issued at the end of the group’s extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Monday, 11 November 2024.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the communique, the meeting considered the 21-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to address its demands.
The professional body of medical consultants in Nigeria observed that so far the Federal Government has yet to make any significant progress in addressing its demands.
It also frowned at what it called “utter disregard for due process” by the Governing Council Chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the institution, despite the Federal Government’s clear directive halting the process and also nullifying any appointment made based on that process.
The group expressed concerns that appointees who emerged through such a process are still parading themselves as holding the offices.
Prime Business Africa had reported that MDCAN and other stakeholders in UNIZIK including ASUU had kicked against the appointment of the seventh substantive Vice-chancellor, Bernard Odoh, arguing that due process was not followed. MEDCAN had faulted the selection criteria which excluded academic professors in medical college and subsequently filed a suit to challenge the action.
According to the communique, MDCAN also observed the failure of the government to harmonize the retirement age of medical consultants to 70 years “to address the current shortfall of critical manpower for training, research, and healthcare services in the country.
“Failure of the Government to universally implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for Clinical Lecturers in all Nigerian Universities, which aim to mitigate the current shortfalls in their Emolument, Entry Level, and Pension contribution of her members.”
It therefore resolved to embark on a seven-day warning strike that will affect all services rendered by its members in all Nigerian universities and hospitals from 12:00 midnight of Monday, 18 November to 12:00 midnight Sunday, 24 November 2024.
MDCAN Demands
The demands of MDCAN members include that the Federal Government should immediately remove the Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Amb Greg Mbadiwe, from office over his refusal to enforce the Ministry of Education’s directive on suspending VC appointment and others following complaints that due process was not followed.
The group urged the Federal Government to develop an all-inclusive prototype of advertisement for the office of the Vice-chancellor. “The advertisement for the Office of Vice Chancellor as recently issued by Ahmadu Bello University Zaria may serve as a prototype,” it suggested.
READ ALSO: How UNIZIK Council Ignored Court Orders To Appoint New VC
Other demands of the professional body of medical consultants include “harmonisation of the retirement age of Medical Consultants to 70 years; harmonisation of payment of emoluments of Medical Lecturers with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), in order to ensure universal applicability of CONMESS to all Medical and Dental officers.
“Payment of 2023 and 2024, Clinical Duty Allowance arrears, and 2023 25%/35% CONMESS arrears.”
The communique said MDCAN NEC will reconvene virtually on Sunday, 24th November 2024 at 8.00 pm to reassess the situation and progress made to chart the next course of action.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
