Strike cripples academic, other activities at clinical institutions in South-west

Strike has paralysed academic and other activities at various clinical institutions in the South west region of the country.

The affected institutions include the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital, University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, University of Ado-Ekiti Teaching Hospital, and University of Medical Science, Ondo.

The clinical lecturers, under the aegis of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) Southwest zone, declared a total strike twenty-three days ago to press home various demands, which include the immediate implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for clinical lecturers at universities with medical schools in the region.

The non-implementation of CONMESS, as demanded, has resulted in a brain drain being experienced in the affected institutions.

The Caucus Chairman of the Union, Dr Afolabi Salawu, at a press conference in Ibadan on Wednesday, declared that the strike would continue until their various demands are met.

He submitted that the administrators of the affected institutions have feigned ignorance of their demands despite numerous appeals.

According to him, they are incorrectly placed on the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS), which has led to significant shortfalls in salaries, entry-level positions, and pension contributions.

This neglect, he stated, has severely impacted staff recruitment and undermined the training of healthcare professionals.

“The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) Southwest zone is bringing to the attention of the public the unresolved issues affecting clinical lecturers in universities with medical schools in the southwest region, namely University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye/Sagamu, Lagos State University, Osun State University, Osogbo, Ekiti State University, Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, and Ambrose Alli University.”

“The prolonged neglect of these issues has resulted in significant shortfalls in emoluments, entry-level positions, and pension contributions, impairing staff recruitment and jeopardising healthcare personnel training,” he stated.

The association highlighted the alarming trend of brain drain, as many clinical lecturers had sought better opportunities both abroad and in other regions of Nigeria, adding that this has been exacerbated by the lack of support from university leadership.

“This tyranny must stop now. The time to save medical education in the southwest is now,” he declared.

MDCAN, however, acknowledged the efforts of some university administrations, such as Ekiti State University and Lagos State University, which have begun implementing CONMESS for their clinical lecturers.

However, he emphasised the need for broader action, stating, “We demand the immediate implementation of CONMESS for all clinical lecturers in universities with medical schools in the southwest region.”

The demands include the payment of outstanding arrears owed to clinical lecturers who have been underpaid for the last four years.

They also sought the harmonisation of emoluments to align with those in other federal and state universities.

“We demand the correct placement of clinical lecturers on the CONMESS salary scale, as approved by the Federal Government,” the association insisted.

MDCAN cautioned that failure to address these demands could lead to sustained disruptions in clinical academic activities.

“We urge the governing councils and management of universities in the southwest region to promptly address these demands to avoid sustained disruptions in clinical academic activities,” he warned.

As the 23rd day of industrial action unfolds, the association said it remains resolute, demanding that the Vice-Chancellors take immediate action to rectify these injustices.

“Today is the 23rd day of this industrial action; no notable response has been gotten from our Vice-Chancellors,” he noted, saying that: “The future of medical education in the southwest hangs in the balance, and the time for change is now.”

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