The National Executive Council (NEC) of MDCAN issued a warning, stating that it will not be able to guarantee the continuous services of its members, who hold Medical and Dental Fellowships throughout the nation, if the demands are not satisfied.

The relevant parties have been served with a 21-day strike notice by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), which is demanding an immediate resolution to its issues.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of MDCAN issued a warning, stating that it will not be able to guarantee the continuous services of its members, who hold Medical and Dental Fellowships throughout the nation, if the demands are not satisfied.

Following an unprecedented virtual NEC meeting, the organisation made this known in a communiqué made accessible to journalists in Jos, Plateau State.

Signed by Secretary Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim and President Prof. Aminu Mohammad of MDCAN, the statement urged members to take legal action, including ceasing to serve, if Vice Chancellor job postings discriminate against Medical and Dental Lecturers.

NEC has decided that holders of Medical and Dental Fellowship credentials shall not be subjected to any unlawful or discriminatory treatment, as stated in the statement.

Members who were impacted by these discriminatory ads were also instructed to take the proper legal action to protect their constitutional rights.

The NEC further stated that it was against Nigerian institutions requiring a PhD in order to hold the office of Vice Chancellor, noting that Medical and Dental Fellowships are comparable professional and academic credentials in situations where a PhD would otherwise be necessary.

MDCAN further criticised the government for not enforcing a uniform 70-year retirement age for medical consultants, pointing out the increasing need for these experts’ contributions in the fields of academia and the workplace.

MDCAN said that in addition to providing specialised treatment in teaching hospitals and federal medical centres, these consultants are in charge of educating medical students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

In order to resolve disparities in their compensation, entrance levels, and pensions, the union also demanded that the federal government hasten the harmonisation of Clinical Medical Lecturers’ pay with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

Finally, the NEC added that it was proud of the work that its members had done in opposing discriminatory ads that aim to keep medical educators from holding leadership positions in universities.