Senior doctors under the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) commenced a seven-day warning strike today, November 18, 2024, over unresolved grievances with the Federal Government, threatening healthcare services in 83 health institutions and 64 medical schools nationwide.
The strike follows a 21-day ultimatum issued in October, with MDCAN citing dissatisfaction with the government’s response to their demands. Among the issues are the exclusion of medical and dental lecturers in Vice-Chancellor selection processes, the need to harmonize the retirement age of medical consultants to 70, and adjustments in emoluments for clinical lecturers under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
“All universities with medical schools and tertiary health institutions nationwide will be affected,” said MDCAN National President, Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, adding that the action involves members across federal and state teaching hospitals, Federal Medical Centres, and specialist hospitals.
In a communique co-signed by Muhammad and Secretary-General Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim, the MDCAN accused the Governing Council Chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, of disregarding due process in selecting a Vice-Chancellor. The association demanded the chairman’s removal and called for a fair, inclusive process for future appointments.
Other key demands include:
- Harmonizing the retirement age for medical consultants to address manpower shortages.
- Implementing CONMESS universally for clinical lecturers to correct emolument and pension shortfalls.
- Clearing outstanding allowances, including 2023 and 2024 Clinical Duty and CONMESS arrears.
The strike, scheduled to end at midnight on Sunday, November 24, 2024, will affect clinical services, research, and training across Nigeria’s medical schools and teaching hospitals. MDCAN warned of further actions if their demands are not met, with the association set to reconvene that evening to evaluate the government’s response.
This development raises concerns about the impact on Nigeria’s already strained healthcare system, which continues to grapple with manpower shortages and a rising trend of medical professionals emigrating for better opportunities abroad.
