The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the shortage of academic manpower in medical institutions across the country.

Nosa Orhue, president of the association, made the appeal in a communiqué, following the association’s National Executive Council meeting held on July 5.

Mr Orhue urged the government to immediately pay the withheld salaries of NAMDA members, stemming from the 2022 strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, stressing that NAMDA is a separate body and not affiliated with ASUU.

The association also urged the National Universities Commission to separate the Bachelor of Science degree programmes in Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical Biochemistry from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences.

According to the association, this would help reduce the excessive workload on lecturers and improve the quality of medical education.

NAMDA called on the government to review the 2009 academic staff agreement for medical lecturers and to revise the disbursement modalities for earned academic allowances and arrears.

The NEC also rejected the discriminatory circular on hazard allowance for medical academics.

Mr Orhue expressed concern over the non-implementation of special pension benefits for hospital-based academics (Medical Consultants), in line with Circular 1 of 1991 and Section 7(e) of the Pension Reform Act (2014), as amended.

He also decried the failure to implement full pension benefits for medical professors as provided for in the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012 and the Pension Reform Act 2014.

The association accused the federal government of allegedly failing to pay seven months of arrears, including the 25/35 per cent salary increment, clinical duty allowance, and accoutrement allowance for medical academics in universities, other tertiary institutions, and research institutes.

Mr Orhue demanded the immediate withdrawal of Circular No. SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, dated June 27, 2025, titled ‘Review of Allowances for Medical/Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service’, issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

He said the circular should be replaced with one that aligns with the Collective Bargaining Agreements of 2001, 2009, and 2014.

He also called for the correction of relativity between the Consolidated Health Salary Structure and the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, in accordance with previous agreements between the Nigerian Medical Association and the federal government.

He noted that NAMDA members, who are also members of the NMA, are remunerated under the CONMESS structure.

“The NEC reviewed the situation in the country, particularly the Federal Government’s decision to deploy Nigerian doctors to St. Lucia under the Technical Aids Corps scheme at a monthly salary of N3 million ($2,000), excluding payments from the St. Lucian government,” Mr Orhue said. “NAMDA hereby notifies the federal government that its members demand a minimum monthly salary of N3 million ($2,000) for the lowest-paid medical academic in Nigeria.”

(NAN)