Association threatens shutdown over exclusion from ZIK Varsity VC race

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

This is contained in a Communique issued on Friday, at the end of its emergency General Meeting and signed by Dr Victor Modekwe and Dr Sunday Oriji, MDCAN Chairman and Secretary respectively.

The Communique rejected and condemned insertion of some criteria, which did not consider the peculiarities of their career progression path.

It observed that the vacancy advert indicated that an applicant for the position of Vice-Chancellor must possess a first degree, Master’s degree and a PhD.

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

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

It also said that the advert, which did not include Postgraduate Medical Fellowship of 15 years, was a deviation from a similar advert for the position in 2019 and injurious to medical profession in Nigeria.

“MDCAN on Aug.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.

“The injurious requirement is a deliberate intention to exclude all the qualified lecturers of the faculties of Medicine, Basic Clinical Sciences and Basic Medical Sciences.

“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 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 that 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.

“That subsequent advert should indicate post-graduate medical fellowship anywhere PhD appears and exclude 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 than to embark on an indefinite industrial action until this advert is withdrawn.

“Congress, therefore, urges the university council and all meaning Nigerians to avert this unnecessary scenario and save our university,” it said.