Medical activities across Nigeria are set to be disrupted as the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria commences a seven-day warning strike, affecting 83 health facilities and 64 medical schools nationwide.
The strike, which began at midnight on Monday was announced following the Federal Government’s failure to address key demands presented by MDCAN, including issues related to the retirement age, emoluments, and appointment processes.
According to The PUNCH, MDCAN National President, Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, outlined the scope of the industrial action.
In a communiqué signed by Prof. Muhammad and MDCAN Secretary-General, Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim, the group condemned what they described as “utter disregard for due process” in the university’s leadership selection.
“The NEC demands that the Federal Government immediately relieve the Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University of his appointment,” the statement read.
The association expressed concerns regarding the exclusion of medical and dental lecturers based on the criteria used in the appointment for the selection process for the office of the Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
It also demands the harmonisation of the retirement age of medical and dental consultants to 70 years to mitigate the effects of doctors’ migration; and the payment of the emoluments of medical lecturers with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to correct the shortfalls in their emolument, entry-level, and their pension.
The association also highlighted unpaid clinical duty allowances for 2023 and 2024, as well as arrears of 25%/35% CONMESS adjustments for 2023.
“All universities owned by the federal and state governments with medical schools, as well as all tertiary health institutions such as teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, and state specialist hospitals, will be affected,” he stated.
MDCAN represents 83 chapters across Nigeria, including 42 fully accredited medical schools, 11 partially accredited medical schools, nine fully accredited dental schools, and two partially accredited dental schools.
MDCAN has proposed solutions to some of the outlined issues, suggesting that the recent Vice-Chancellor advertisement by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, serve as a prototype for inclusive and transparent leadership appointments.
The warning strike is expected to end on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at midnight.
However, MDCAN has stated that its National Executive Council will reconvene the same day to evaluate the government’s response and decide on further action.
