As the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria begins a seven-day warning strike today (Monday), medical activities are at risk of being grounded in no fewer than 83 health facilities and 64 medical schools across the country.
This was disclosed by the National President of the MDCAN, Prof Muhammad Muhammad, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Sunday.
MDCAN in a communique issued last Thursday declared a seven-day warning strike over the Federal Government’s inability to take significant steps to address its demands.
The strike will commence in all Nigerian universities and hospitals from today (Monday) to Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Earlier in October, MDCAN issued a 21-day ultimatum from October 21 to November 11, to stakeholders, including the Federal Government, to address its demands, or its members would withdraw their services nationwide.
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.
Prof Muhammad said, “All the universities owned by the federal and state governments with medical schools are going to be affected. All the federal and state tertiary health institutions that have our members, which is all the teaching hospitals, all the federal medical centres, and also all state teaching and specialist hospitals in Nigeria are going to be affected.
“We have 83 MDCAN chapters representing 83 teaching hospitals, Federal Medical Centres and specialists hospitals.
“There are 42 fully accredited medical schools, 11 partially accredited medical schools, nine fully accredited dental schools, two partially accredited dental schools.”
The association’s communique signed by Muhammad and the association’s Secretary-General, Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim, said the NEC “observed the reckless and utter disregard for due process” by the Governing Council Chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, leading to the selection of Vice Chancellor, despite the government’s clear and unequivocal directive halting the process and nullifying any appointment made based on that process.
“The NEC noted with utter disbelieve that such appointees are still parading themselves as
such.
“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. The failure of the government to universally implement the CONMESS for clinical lecturers in all Nigerian universities, which aims to mitigate the current shortfalls in their emolument, entry level, and pension contribution of her members.
“The MDCAN NEC declares a seven-day warning strike affecting services rendered by her members in all Nigerian universities and hospitals from 12:00 midnight Monday, November 18th, 2024 to 12.00 midnight Sunday, November 24, 2024,” the communique read partly.
“The NEC demands that the FG immediately relieve the Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University of his appointment as council chairman, for his insubordination and to enforce the Ministry of Education’s directive nullifying any appointments subsequent to their directives.”
It also asks “the FG to develop an all-inclusive prototype of advertisement for the Office of Vice-Chancellor. The advertisement for the Office of Vice Chancellor as recently issued by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, may serve as a prototype.
“The MDCAN NEC demands the harmonisation of the retirement age of Medical Consultants to 70 years. The MDCAN NEC demands harmonisation of payment of emoluments of CONMESS to ensure universal applicability of CONMESS to all Medical and Dental officers. Payment of 2023 and 2024, Clinical Duty Allowance areas, and 2023 25 per cent/35 per cent CONMESS arrears.
“The MDCAN NEC will reconvene on Sunday, November 24th, 2024 at 8.00 pm to reassess the situation and progress made to chart the next course of action.”
