BY FAVOUR PERCY-IDUBOR /BENIN
MEDICAL and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Chapter in compliance with the national directive has commenced a one week warning strike from Monday 18th to Sunday, 24th November, 2024.
The association expressed concerns regarding the unwarranted and unprovoked exclusion of medical and dental lecturers based on discriminatory criteria used in the appointment for the selection process of university leadership positions including for the office of the Vice- Chancellor as experienced recently in some universities including the recent case of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
It also expressed concerns in government delay in the harmonisation of the retirement age of medical and dental consultants to 70 years to mitigate the effects of doctors’ migration which is having a terrible toll on the health and mental state of the medical workforce; and the persistent hesitance for 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 among other demands. These have been on for months and years.
Earlier in October this year, 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 strike commenced on Monday due to Federal Government insensitivity to the MDCAN expressed concerns and hereby demands that “The FG should immediately relieve the Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University of his appointment as Council Chairman, for his insubordination and failure to enforce the Ministry of Education’s directive nullifying any appointments that run against laid down procedures
“The development of 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 harmonisation of the retirement age of Medical Consultants to 70 years.
“The harmonisation of payment of emoluments of CONMESS to ensure universal applicability of CONMESS to all Medical and Dental officers.
