From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has demanded that the federal government immediately relieve Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe of his position as pro-chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council, Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
The NEC declared a 7-day warning strike, effective from Monday, 18th November 2024, if the government fails to heed their demand.
In a communiqué issued in Jos at the end of the extraordinary virtual meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) held on Monday, 11th November 2024, to consider the 21-day ultimatum issued to the federal government, MDCAN said that the strike will affect all services rendered by their members in all Nigerian universities and public hospitals in the country.
They accused Mbadiwe of insubordination and refusal to enforce the Ministry of Education’s directive nullifying the recent appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the university.
The doctors expressed disbelief that such appointees are still parading themselves as such.
The communiqué, which was jointly signed by 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 the government to universally implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for clinical lecturers in all Nigerian universities, which aims to mitigate the current shortfalls in their emoluments, entry level, and pension contributions of members.
The communiqué further called on the federal government to develop an all-inclusive prototype advertisement for the office of Vice-Chancellor.
They argued that an advertisement for the office of Vice-Chancellor, as recently issued by Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, should serve as a guide for the future selection of Vice-Chancellors in universities across the country.
The consultants further demanded the harmonisation of payment of emoluments for 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 communiqué, NEC will reconvene at the expiration of the 7-day warning strike notice to reassess the situation and progress made, to enable them to take the next line of action.