The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) South-East caucus has declared a five-day warning strike, starting Monday, October 21, 2024. This action is in solidarity with universities in the South-East and South-South regions, following ongoing protests at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State.
The protests at UNIZIK center around the exclusion of clinical lecturers from the eligibility criteria for the Vice-Chancellor position. The MDCAN announced that clinical lecturers from universities across the South-East and South-South regions would join the five-day strike to express their discontent with this decision.
MDCAN members at UNIZIK had already initiated a strike on September 24, 2024, in opposition to the governing council’s decision to introduce requirements that disqualify medical and dental lecturers from applying for the Vice-Chancellor position. The association pointed out that the criteria were discriminatory and included several inconsistencies.
In a letter dated October 16, 2024, signed by Dr. Iroro Yarhere, Chairman of the MDCAN South-East Caucus, and Dr. Stanley Ogbonna, Secretary of the Caucus, concerns were raised about the exclusionary policies being implemented. The letter, addressed to the Vice Chancellors of universities in the South-East and South-South regions, was obtained by our correspondent on Friday.
The letter reads, “This exclusion is unacceptable to us, as it sets a dangerous precedent. Should this be allowed to stand, it could encourage other universities to adopt similar exclusionary policies, effectively denigrating the Fellowship qualifications with which clinical lecturers were employed at the rank of Lecturer I or higher.”
The MDCAN further emphasized that this development undermines the contributions of clinical lecturers, who have played vital roles in advancing academic, research, and healthcare services in their respective institutions.
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