The Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged deliberate exclusion of its members from contesting the position of vice-chancellor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.

This is contained in a communiqué issued on Friday at the end of its emergency general meeting and signed by Victor Modekwe and Sunday Oriji, MDCAN chairman and secretary, respectively.

It was observed that the vacancy advertisement indicated that an applicant for the position of vice-chancellor must possess a first degree, a master’s degree and a PhD.

The association condemned the conditions in the advert, describing it as unfair and called for its withdrawal within seven days to avert a total shutdown in all medical education sectors of the university.

The consultants said the industrial action would entail the withdrawal of all the medical/clinical lecturers from the faculties of medicine, basic clinical sciences and basic medical sciences from all academic functions.

According to the communique, the academic pathway of clinical lecturers in NAU and globally did not fit the criteria in the vacancy advertisement.

It said the academic pathway of clinical lecturers included a first degree (MBBS/BDS), a primary fellowship examination, a Part I fellowship examination, and a Part II/Final fellowship examination, leading to the award of a medical fellowship.

It also said the advertisement, which did not include a postgraduate medical fellowship of 15 years, was a deviation from a similar ad for the position in 2019 and injurious to the medical profession in Nigeria.

“MDCAN, on August 2, wrote a letter to the office of the pro-chancellor/chairman governing council in which we alleged of plans to insert some injurious requirements into the proposed vacancy advert for the position of VC, NAU.

“We appealed in that letter that the injurious requirement should not be inserted as it is not only strange to the university but to all the universities in Nigeria,” it said.

The association said the “injurious” requirement was a deliberate attempt to exclude lecturers from the faculties of medicine, basic clinical sciences and basic medical sciences.

It requested, “That subsequent advert should indicate postgraduate medical fellowship anywhere a PhD appears and exclude a Master’s degree from the requirements, considering our long-standing pathway.

“That if this advert is not withdrawn within seven days from the date of this letter, we will be left with no option but to embark on an indefinite industrial action until this advert is withdrawn.”

The association urged the university council to avert the “unnecessary scenario and save our university.” 

(NAN)