The Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has been encouraged by resident doctors at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) to reconsider the purported barring of clinical lecturers from running for the position of vice-chancellor.

The appeal was made on Wednesday as the fourth week of a strike by clinical lecturers got underway by the physicians acting under the auspices of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD)-NAUTH.

The clinical lecturers went on strike on September 25 in protest of what they claimed was the addition of some criteria that ignored the unique circumstances of their route towards professional advancement.

For Yoruba language and act, Yusuf Gemini Balogun, oral poet, I want to sell out 02 Arena.

The job posting said that candidates for the vice-chancellorship of the university must hold a first degree, a master’s degree, and a doctorate for a period of fifteen years.

The instructors, however, claimed that the criteria did not align with their worldwide and NAU academic track.

They said that clinic lecturers who were competent instructors in the colleges of medicine, basic clinical sciences, and basic medical sciences were not eligible to apply for the post due to the prerequisites, which included the drawing of N400 million funds.

In a declaration bearing the signatures of its President, Dr. Chiemezie Agbanu, and Secretary, Dr. Nwabueze Okeke, ARD-NAUTH urged the council to do away with the requirements and allow any eligible individual to enter the competition.

Under the auspices of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN)-NAUTH, ARD-NAUTH proclaimed its solidarity with the striking educators and trainers.

The purposeful attempt to prevent medical professors from running for the vice-chancellorship at NAU is illegal, as per the NAU Establishment Act of 1993 (as modified).

“We humbly request that the National University Commission, the National Postgraduate College of Nigeria, the University Management, and the Governing Council step in to save our already failing educational system.

In order to provide a level playing field for all competitors, it stated, “We join in solidarity with our teachers and trainers to demand the immediate retraction of the advertisement and advise that an impartial publication be made.”

ARD-NAUTH expressed sympathy to the NAU medical students who were impacted by the teachers’ walkout demanding to be entered in the competition.