ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has issued the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to resolve unresolved salary and welfare issues affecting medical lecturers or risk an indefinite nationwide strike.
The association announced the ultimatum after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, warning that failure to address its demands within the stipulated period could lead to industrial action that may disrupt medical education in federal universities.
NAMDA President, Dr. Nosa Orhue, said the union had engaged the government for more than two years over remuneration, welfare packages, and the implementation of agreements affecting medical academics, but had yet to achieve a satisfactory resolution.
He stated that the association expected negotiations to be concluded before the expiration of the 21-day notice, adding that the NEC would reconvene to determine the next steps if no agreement was reached.
Orhue expressed concern over the delay in renegotiating the 2009 agreement, which he said had stalled since April 9 despite several meetings with government representatives.
According to him, medical academics have been excluded from some improved welfare packages granted to other university-based unions, including earned academic allowances, professorial allowances, and other entitlements.
He argued that the disparity in remuneration between university medical lecturers and hospital consultants performing similar clinical duties has contributed to the growing brain drain in Nigeria’s medical education sector.
The NAMDA president explained that medical academics combine teaching, research, and clinical responsibilities, including surgeries and hospital administration, yet receive lower compensation than some counterparts in teaching hospitals despite having similar qualifications and professional licences.
The association maintained that the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) remains the preferred salary framework for medical and dental academics, rejecting any move to place its members under the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS).
Orhue also opposed the migration of medical academics above the age of 65 from CONMESS to CONUASS, describing the policy as financially disadvantageous and unfair to affected lecturers.
Other demands raised by the association include the implementation of special pension benefits for retired hospital-based academics and a review of the National Universities Commission’s requirement that medical academics obtain PhD qualifications.
Despite the dispute, NAMDA commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for efforts aimed at improving university education and acknowledged the support of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on the issue of salary parity for medical academics.
