MDCAN to OAUTH: We won’t return to work until entitlements are paid

The leadership of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association (MDCAN), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Tuesday, vowed not to return to work after the conclusion of the current national warning strike embarked upon by the union, until their outstanding entitlements are offset by the federal government.

The union, which listed its salient demands as the discriminatory policy against the medical fellowship and harmonisation of payment of emoluments of CONMESS to ensure universal applicability of CONMESS to all medical and dental lecturers, among others, demanded immediate payment of CONMESS to all clinical lecturers in OAU to save the future of medical education in the foremost citadel of learning.

OAU MDCAN Chairman Dr Olufemi Ogundipe and the General Secretary, Dr Tajudin Adetunji, however, maintained that all academic activities at the College of Health Sciences in the university involving all clinical lecturers had been granted a halt and charged the concerned authorities to also place clinical lecturers in the hospital on comes as it is being done in the other federal universities.

He further warned that, if their demands are not met, the medical college may lose its accreditation status with the National University Commission (NUC), saying their availability will be essential during the exercise.

Also speaking with newsmen on the development, a medical consultant at the hospital, who preferred anonymity, stated that, “on the likely implications of the strike, the 100 final year medical students examination, scheduled for next Monday, may suffer a setback.

“The accreditation by the NUC is also coming up in a few days time. Our resolve as an association is to continue with the strike. And with that position, the effects on student examinations and the incoming accreditation exercise are better imagined than experienced.”

Meanwhile, the union officers further remarked that its members have joined the ongoing warning industrial action, as directed by the national leadership of the association.

The strike followed the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government to reverse the discriminatory criteria against clinical lecturers used in the selection and appointment of the university leadership positions, especially for the office of the Vice-Chancellor.

The association, which made specific reference to recent developments in some universities, including that of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, demanded approval of an all-inclusive prototype of advertisement for the Office of Vice-Chancellor.

It thereafter charged the concerned authorities to act fast on the matter, which it stated has caused a dearth of clinical lecturers and dwindling fortunes of medical education in the country.

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