MDCAN issues ultimatum on CONMESS payment to Southwest lecturers

The South-west zone of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to universities in the region to commence payment of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to clinical lecturers.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr. Abdulkareem Salawu, and Secretary, Dr. Omotola Obajolowo, and made available to journalists.

The association lamented the prolonged denial of CONMESS salaries for clinical lecturers in Southwest universities.

The MDCAN said that universities in the region are yet to commence payment despite its implementation in about 75 percent of federal universities nationwide.

It decried the use of the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS), instead of the CONMESS scale approved for medical and dental officers since 2008.

The group said the situation had led to significant salary shortfalls, reduced pension contributions, and adverse effects on the recruitment and retention of clinical lecturers.

It said the situation has jeopardised the training of medical doctors and healthcare professionals in the region.

The association said that university managements in the Southwest have remained unyielding despite numerous representations backed by official circulars.

It demanded the immediate harmonisation of clinical lecturers’ salaries with the CONMESS scale and the payment of four-year arrears to address the perceived injustice.

The association warned that failure to meet their demands by the end of the 21-day ultimatum could escalate into a full-blown industrial action.

The association called on Vice Chancellors, Pro-Chancellors, and relevant stakeholders to intervene urgently to avoid a looming crisis in the region’s universities.