The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has embarked on a seven-day warning strike, with a clear message to the Federal Government: address our concerns or face further action.
MDCAN President, Prof. Muhammad A. Muhammad, shared this stance during a press briefing in Kano, following the commencement of the strike on Monday. The decision, he noted, was unanimously reached during a virtual National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on November 11, 2024.
Unresolved Issues
The association’s grievances include poor working conditions, delayed implementation of welfare agreements, and unresolved matters affecting the medical and dental fields. Prof. Muhammad emphasized that the government’s inaction has left them no choice but to proceed with industrial action, despite repeated efforts to resolve these issues through dialogue.
Key demands include:
- Harmonization of the retirement age for medical consultants to 70 years, to address manpower shortages in healthcare, research, and training.
- Universal implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for clinical lecturers, ensuring fair compensation and eliminating discrepancies in pay, entry levels, and pension contributions.
- Immediate payment of 2023 and 2024 Clinical Duty Allowance arrears, alongside 25%/35% CONMESS arrears for 2023.
Call for Accountability
MDCAN also criticized the Governing Council Chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe University for defying government directives by appointing a Vice-Chancellor through a process declared invalid. The association has demanded the chairman’s immediate removal for undermining due process.
Prof. Muhammad pointed to the Vice-Chancellor selection process at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as a model for transparent and fair appointments, urging the government to adopt similar standards nationwide.
A Warning to the Government
The MDCAN NEC plans to reconvene on November 24, 2024, to assess the government’s response. Prof. Muhammad cautioned that failure to address their demands before the strike concludes would lead to an escalation.
“We remain hopeful that the government will take meaningful steps to resolve these pressing issues,” he stated, adding, “Our commitment to returning to work is unwavering, but the ball is in the government’s court.”
The strike serves as a critical moment in the ongoing dialogue between healthcare professionals and the government, highlighting the urgent need for reforms to stabilize the sector and ensure quality healthcare delivery.
