By Isreal Adamu, Jos
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has issued a 21-day strike notice to stakeholders, demanding the resolution of their ongoing concerns.
The association warned that if their demands are not met, they cannot guarantee the continued provision of services by members who hold Medical and Dental Fellowship qualifications nationwide.
This announcement was made in a statement issued in Jos following an extraordinary virtual NEC meeting held on Wednesday via Zoom. The statement, signed by MDCAN President Prof. Aminu Mohammad and Secretary Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim, directed members to consider lawful steps, including withdrawing services and pursuing legal action, where advertisements for university Vice Chancellor positions are deemed discriminatory against medical and dental lecturers.
The statement read, in part, “NEC resolves that any unlawful and discriminatory stance toward holders of the Medical and Dental Fellowship qualifications will no longer be tolerated.”
MDCAN further emphasized that members in areas where discriminatory advertisements are released have been directed to take necessary legal measures to restore their rights, as outlined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The NEC also criticized the requirement by some Nigerian universities that applicants for Vice Chancellor positions must hold a PhD, without recognizing Medical and Dental Fellowships as equivalent academic and professional qualifications. The association insisted that these fellowships are more than sufficient wherever a PhD is required.
In addition, MDCAN expressed frustration over the government’s failure to harmonize the retirement age of medical consultants to 70 years, especially given the increasing demand for their academic and professional expertise. The association highlighted that these consultants are responsible for both undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental training and provide specialist medical services at tertiary health institutions, including teaching hospitals, federal medical centers, and specialty hospitals.
MDCAN also urged the federal government to expedite the process of harmonizing the salaries of clinical medical lecturers with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to address significant shortfalls in their remuneration, entry-level positions, and pension entitlements.
The NEC commended its members for taking steps to address discriminatory advertisements, which it claimed were designed to disenfranchise medical lecturers and prevent them from contributing to university administration at the highest levels.
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Edits made:
– Corrected grammar and punctuation errors.
– Reworded sentences for clarity and consistency.
– Improved flow and structure for readability.
