The National Executive Council (NEC), Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has declared 7- days warning strike effective from Monday 18th November, 2024. The strike will affect all services rendered by their members in all Nigerian universities and public hospitals in the country.
The Medical and Dental Consultants also demanded that federal government should immediately relieve Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe from his position as pro-chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council, Nnamdi Azikiwe University for his insubordination and refusal to enforce Ministry of Education’s directive nullifying the recent appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the university.
This was contained in a communique issued in Jos at the end of the extraordinary virtual meeting of National Executive Council (NEC) held on Monday, 11th November, 2024, to consider the 21 days ultimatum issued to the Federal Government noted with utter disbelieve, that such appointees are still parading themselves as such.
The communique which was jointly signed by the President Prof Aminu Mohammad and Secretary Prof Daiyabu Ibrahim observed the failure of the Government to harmonise 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.
NEC also frowned at the failure of 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.
The communique further called on the Federal Government to develop an all-inclusive prototype of advertisement for Office of Vice Chancellor.
They argued that advertisement for the Office of Vice Chancellor as recently issued by Ahmadu Bello University Zaria should serve as a guide for future selection of University’s Vice Chancellors in the country.
The consultants further demanded for the 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.
According to the communique, NEC will reconvene at the expiration of the 7 Days warning strike notice to reassess the situation and progress made to enable them take the next line of action.