MDCAN seeks review of consultants’ retirement age to 70, unified salary scale

• FG dissolves UNIZIK’s governing council, sacks VC

The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), University College Hospital (UCH) chapter, Ibadan, has called on the Federal Government to increase the retirement age of consultants to 70 years and unify the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) to rescue medical education in the country.

It would be recalled that the consultants had commenced a nationwide strike on Monday to press home some demands.

The UCH Chairman of MDCAN, Dr Oluseyi Akande, said the strike was to press home three demands, which the Federal Government had neglected despite previous engagements by the association.

Speaking at a press briefing, which took place at the MDCAN Lounge of the institution, Akande said the call and the strike became necessary to save the future of medical education in Nigeria.

The demands, according to Akande, include the dismissal of the Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, for excluding medical lecturers from the vice chancellorship race of the institution; the increase in the retirement age of core clinical staff in the government employment from 60 to 70 for medical specialists, and 65 years for other clinical staff, and the universal applicability of the CONMESS approved by the government for all doctors irrespective of where they work.

MEANWHILE, the Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, with immediate effect.

It also announced the sack of the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof.  Benard Odoh.

It accused the sacked governing council of grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the Chairman of the dissolved Governing Council was accused of unilaterally appointing the Vice Chancellor.

According to the statement, the appointment did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position.

It was gathered that the controversy had trailed the recent appointment of Prof. Bernard Odoh as the institution’s Vice Chancellor by the Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council, which elicited protest from some stakeholders.

A statement by the Federal Ministry of Education yesterday in Abuja, tagged, ‘Dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka,’ reads: “The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasised that urgent measures were needed to prevent further deterioration of the situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as the illegal decisions taken by the Governing Council posed a significant risk of further destabilising the institution. As part of the dissolution, the following members of the Governing Council have been removed: Amb. Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe – Pro-Chancellor; Hafiz Oladejo – Council Member; Augustine Onyedebelu; Amioleran Osahon; Rtd Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.

“The Minister of Education has also announced the removal of, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Odoh, who was illegally appointed by the dissolved Governing Council. By the university’s founding Act, an Acting Vice Chancellor will be appointed, and a new Governing Council for the university will be constituted as soon as possible to ensure proper governance and adherence to the law.”