NAMDA: Nigeria Medical Lecturers Launch 3-Day Warning Strike

• The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) will commence a three-day warning strike next Tuesday, with 14 of its 17 branches endorsing the action.
• The industrial action stems from the Federal Government's failure to conclude negotiations on conditions of service and formally document the CONMESS salary structure for medical lecturers.
• Key grievances also include the non-payment of various allowances, such as MCATA, Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), Excess Workload Allowance, and Professorial Allowance.
• Professor Aniekan Peter, NAMDA's Acting Secretary-General, highlighted the government's inaction despite a severe shortage of medical lecturers and the worsening "Japa" syndrome.
• NAMDA criticizes the government's plan to "mass-produce" doctors without adequate investment in the welfare and remuneration of the medical lecturers who train them.

He contended that it is illogical to increase the number of doctors without simultaneously investing adequately in the welfare and remuneration of both the doctors themselves and the medical lecturers responsible for their training.

The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) is poised to initiate a three-day warning strike next Tuesday, following a decisive vote by its National Executive Council. This industrial action has garnered significant support, with 14 out of the 17 branches of the association voting in favor of the strike. The planned stoppage is intended to be comprehensive and total, affecting all medical schools across the nation.

Professor Aniekan Peter, who serves as the Acting Secretary-General for NAMDA and is a professor of neuroanatomy in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Uyo, formally announced the impending strike. In a statement released from Uyo on Wednesday, Professor Peter expressed profound disappointment regarding the Federal Government's perceived indifference to the critical concerns of medical lecturers. He emphasized that the association's members feel compelled into this industrial action, which he described as entirely avoidable, given the existing scarcity of medical educators and the escalating trend of medical professionals emigrating from the country.

At the core of the dispute are several long-standing issues that NAMDA claims the Federal Government has failed to address. A primary concern is the government's inability, through the Ahmed Yahale Committee, to finalize negotiations concerning the conditions of service for medical lecturers. This protracted negotiation process has left many academics feeling undervalued and without clear terms of employment.

Furthermore, the association highlights the government's failure to formally document the payment structure for medical lecturers under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). This lack of official recognition for their remuneration adds to the uncertainty faced by these professionals. Other significant grievances include the non-payment of various allowances, specifically MCATA, Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), Excess Workload Allowance, and Professorial Allowance, all of which contribute to the overall dissatisfaction among the academic staff.

Professor Peter underscored the unfortunate timing of these unresolved issues, particularly as Nigeria grapples with a severe shortage of medical lecturers. He questioned the fairness of a situation where medical academics who choose to remain and serve their country, despite challenging economic conditions, are met with such governmental neglect. The impending strike, therefore, is not merely about remuneration but also about the broader sustainability of medical education in the country.

The NAMDA leadership has urged the Federal Government to re-engage in negotiations promptly to resolve these matters before the warning strike escalates further. Professor Peter also voiced strong disapproval of the government's strategy to "mass-produce" doctors as a solution to the shortage caused by emigration, arguing that such an approach is fundamentally flawed. He contended that it is illogical to increase the number of doctors without simultaneously investing adequately in the welfare and remuneration of both the doctors themselves and the medical lecturers responsible for their training.

This impending strike by medical lecturers highlights ongoing labour disputes within Nigeria's public education and health sectors. Legal counsel advising government bodies, public universities, or medical institutions should assess the legal implications of the industrial action, including collective bargaining obligations, potential liabilities, and strategies for dispute resolution under Nigerian labour law. Compliance officers should monitor for disruptions to medical training and potential impacts on healthcare service delivery.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers.