The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria [MDCAN], University College Hospital (UCH) chapter, on Tuesday, called on the Federal Government to sack the chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, for making Ph.D. a criterion for the post of the Vice Chancellor of the university, thereby excluding medical lecturers from the race.

MDCAN had declared a seven-day strike nationwide over the matter,  beginning from Monday. The UCH chapter joined that industrial action. This has affected activities at the premier teaching hospital.

Speaking at a press conference, which took place at the MDCAN Lounge of the institution, the UCH Chairman of MDCAN, Dr Oluseyi Akande, said the strike became imperative over the undue treatment being meted out to medical lecturers at UNIZIK.

Akande vowed that MDCAN would not allow the high-quality, time-tested, and hard-earned medical fellowship to be subverted, undermined, or disparaged by any university council in Nigeria.

The MDCAN boss was flanked by Dr. Abieyuwa Fagbohun, Dr Yewande Babalola, Oludare Olulana, and Dr Emmanuel Jite.

Akande said the compliance to the strike was total, except in emergency cases to save lives.

He said: ”The strike is to press home three demands which the Federal Government has neglected despite previous engagements by our association.

“Right from the advert, the process excluded an important and indispensable group of the University, the medically qualified professors.

“The advert and the process strangely made a PhD degree a prerequisite for becoming a Vice-Chancellor in that University. It is a known fact that acquisition of a PhD is not in the tract of medical academics who are holders of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Medical Fellowship, which is an academic and professional qualification required for appointment and progression in the University.

“Please, note that medical fellowships are awarded by relevant postgraduate medical colleges established by government decrees. This is the global standard, and it is not new in Nigeria.

“Nigerian Universities have been administered and are still being administered by many medically qualified fellows who have done excellently well and history is there to confirm.
Examples at the University of Ibadan include Prof Adeoye Lambo, Prof H.O Thomas, Prof ABOO Oyediran, Professor Ayodele  Falase, and Professor Isaac Adewole.

“The position of a council chairman and pro-chancellor of a university is so revered that it is to be given to people who will be careless in the affairs of the University.

“MDCAN will not allow our high quality, time-tested, hard-earned medical fellowship to be subverted or undermined or disparaged by any University council in Nigeria.

“We demand for an immediate sack of Amb. Greg Mbadiwe as the council Chairman of Nnamdi  Azikiwe University Awka.”