The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, has announced a 7-day warning strike set to commence on Monday, November 18, 2024.
The strike directive, issued by the Association’s National Executive Council, calls on medical consultants in Nigerian universities and public hospitals to comply. This decision followed a virtual NEC meeting held on November 11, in Jos, where MDCAN evaluated a prior 21-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government.
The Association is pressing for several key actions from the government, including the removal of Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. MDCAN claims Mbadiwe has ignored a directive from the Ministry of Education that nullifies the recent Vice-Chancellor appointment at the university.
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Signed by MDCAN President Professor Aminu Mohammad and Secretary Professor Daiyabu Ibrahim, the NEC communique also criticized the government for failing to extend the retirement age for medical consultants to 70, which MDCAN argues is essential for addressing Nigeria’s shortage of healthcare professionals.
The association also raised concerns about the lack of implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for Clinical Lecturers, which would address salary, entry-level placement, and pension disparities. MDCAN insists that these changes are crucial for a fair and unified salary structure across Nigerian universities.
“NEC will reconvene after the expiration of the 7-day warning strike to assess any progress,” stated the communique, with MDCAN indicating further action may follow depending on the government’s response.
Additionally, MDCAN urged the government to adopt a transparent approach to university leadership recruitment, citing Ahmadu Bello University’s recent Vice-Chancellor recruitment as a model for inclusivity in the selection process.
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