The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) announced on Wednesday that it has embarked on a nationwide strike due to the Federal Government’s failure to address its demands.
This was disclosed by Dr. Samuel Emdin, Chairman of MDCAN at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri, during a press briefing. He read a statement signed by MDCAN’s National President, Dr. Mohammad Aminu Mohammad, and National Secretary, Prof. Daiyabu Alhaji Ibrahim.
Dr. Emdin explained that the crisis began when MDCAN’s National Executive Council (NEC), during an extraordinary meeting, observed what they termed the Federal Government’s neglect and “reckless disregard for due process” by the Governing Council Chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, concerning the appointment of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor.
As part of their demands, MDCAN called for:
1. The immediate removal of the Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University for insubordination and failure to comply with the Ministry of Education’s directives.
2. The development of an inclusive prototype advertisement for the position of Vice-Chancellor, using the recent advertisement by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as a model.
Other key demands include:
– Harmonization of the retirement age of medical consultants to 70 years.
– Harmonization of medical lecturers’ salaries with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
– Payment of outstanding Clinical Duty Allowance arrears for 2023 and 2024.
– Payment of 2023 CONMESS arrears at 25% and 35%.
MDCAN stated that the NEC would reconvene on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at 8:00 PM to assess progress and decide on the next steps.
