The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has dismissed reports suggesting that its members are currently on strike.
In a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja, and jointly signed by Dr. Nosa Lancy-Orhue (President), Dr. Abdulrahman Shehu (Secretary-General), and Dr. Muhammad Askira (National Liaison Officer/Organising Secretary), the association made it clear that its members remain at work.
NAMDA, the umbrella body for medical lecturers in universities, tertiary hospitals, and research institutions, is responsible for the training of doctors and dentists at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Nigeria.
“NAMDA is not on strike, and we will not be blackmailed, coaxed, or lured away from the interest of our members,” the statement read.
The association said the clarification became necessary following numerous inquiries from members of the public and the press about its position amid the ongoing strike by another university union.
NAMDA acknowledged that while its members have faced neglect over time, it would continue to pursue its legitimate demands in ways that protect its members’ interests.
According to the statement, discussions with the Federal Government through the Ministries of Labour and Education are ongoing and have been “very encouraging.”
The association said the Minister of Education, during a meeting facilitated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, promised to address key issues affecting medical lecturers.
These include:
The implementation of the Consolidated Medical Workers Salary Structure (CONMESS).
The removal of the compulsory PhD requirement for medical lecturers who already possess postgraduate fellowships, both for promotion and for contesting the position of Vice-Chancellor.
NAMDA also urged the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to approve a scheme of service contained in memorandum CM(90)92 from its 11th meeting in 1990, based on the recommendations of the late Chief Justice Atanda Fatai Williams.
The group further noted that the issue of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) was discussed with government officials. It said the Minister of Education had apologised for a letter from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which wrongly appeared to limit the allowance to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
NAMDA accused some university managements — allegedly backed by a sister union — of trying to exclude its members from receiving the allowances, citing an incident at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, where the governing council had claimed medical lecturers were not entitled to EAA payments.
The association said it had asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate how two contradictory letters on the same issue came from the AGF’s office.
“The conditions of service for medical and dental lecturers cannot be satisfactorily negotiated by anyone but medical academics under NAMDA,” the association stated.
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NAMDA urged the government to expedite the approval and circularisation of CONMESS, and direct the National Universities Commission (NUC) to reaffirm the withdrawal of the circular that made a PhD mandatory for medical academics already holding postgraduate fellowships.
It also warned that if it ever decides to withdraw its services, the move would strictly follow its constitution and could have significant implications for both the education and health sectors.
