Medical lecturers across Nigerian universities, research, and health institutions have resolved to embark on a comprehensive three-day warning strike.
Operating under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), the lecturers are taking the drastic measure to protest the worsening conditions of service for medical professionals within the academia.
According to an official statement signed by the Acting National Secretary, Prof. Aniekan Peters, and released to journalists in Uyo, the industrial action is scheduled to commence on September 3.
Prof. Peters confirmed that 14 branches of the association have already endorsed the action to draw urgent attention from the federal government regarding their stagnated welfare.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of NAMDA noted that the upcoming warning strike would be total and comprehensive across all medical schools in the country.
The association expressed deep frustration that despite the severe shortage of medical educators and the crippling “Japa” migration syndrome, the federal government continues to ignore their legitimate concerns and refuse meaningful engagement.
At the core of the dispute is the federal government’s failure to conclude long-standing negotiations on the conditions of service for medical lecturers, which were initially initiated through the Ahmed Yahale Committee.
Additional grievances include the failure to properly document the payment of medical lecturers under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), alongside the non-payment of vital allowances like MCATA, EAA, Excess Workload Allowance, and Professorial Allowance.
The lecturers strongly criticized the government’s current strategy of attempting to mass-produce medical doctors to combat the brain drain while neglecting the welfare of the very professors and educators tasked with training them.
They argued that it is counterproductive to try to bridge the national healthcare shortage without securing the financial future and working conditions of medical instructors.
As the September 3 deadline approaches, NAMDA has issued a final appeal to the federal government to return to the negotiating table and resolve these outstanding demands immediately.
The union warns that failure to address these grievances before the expiration of the ultimatum will make the full implementation of the warning strike inevitable, potentially disrupting medical education nationwide.
