MDCAN urges FG, monarchs to save medical education from collapse

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) in the South-West Zone, on Wednesday, called on the Federal Government, monarchs, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders to come to the aid of medical education in the region and the country at large.

The association also called on the government to commence the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical and clinical lecturers.

The medical lecturers called on the government to pay the outstanding arrears of the clinical lecturers and harmonize their emoluments with their counterparts in federal universities and ensure the universal applicability of CONMESS.

They made the call during a press conference at the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State branch office in Ibadan.

The conference was addressed by the leaders of the Southwest MDCAN, including Dr. Afolabi Salawu, Dr. Seyi Akande, Prof. Femi Ogundipe, Dr. K.K. Okunade, Dr. Sarah Ibiyemi, Dr. Yemi Raji, Dr. Omotola Obajolowo, and others.

They demanded the correct placement of clinical lecturers on the CONMESS salary scale, as approved by the Federal Government.

They also demanded that CONMESS be universally applicable to all medical and dental officers in public service, including clinical lecturers.

MDCAN appealed to the Federal Government to intervene for the implementation of CONMESS. The association said stakeholders, monarchs, opinion leaders, the federal government, and the general public must come to the aid of clinical lecturers.

They stated: “The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) South-West Zone is bringing to the attention of the public the unresolved issues affecting clinical lecturers in universities with medical schools in the South-West region, namely the University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Benin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye/Sagamu, Lagos State University, Osun State University, Osogbo, Ekiti State University, Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

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“Despite repeated representations and appeals, the governing councils and management of these universities have failed to address the lingering issues of incorrect placement of clinical lecturers on the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONAUSS) instead of the approved Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). The prolonged neglect of these issues has resulted in significant shortfalls in emoluments, entry-level, and pension contributions, impairing staff recruitment and jeopardizing healthcare personnel training. This has led to untold hardship for our members who have decided to engage in medical training.

“The sacrifice of medical teachers who are patriotic and choose to stay back in the country for the sustainability of medical education is being allowed to go to waste. The menace of brain drain is being supported through this attitude being put up by Vice-Chancellors in universities in the Southwest, as many clinical lecturers have sought greener pastures, both abroad and in other zones of the country.

“This must not be allowed to continue. Why the Southwest? The same salary is being enjoyed in more than 80 percent of medical schools across the entire universities in the North, South-South, and Southeast. It is surprising that only the VCs in the Southwest chose to be agents of affliction to medical lecturers for reasons best known to them. This tyranny must stop now. The time to save medical education in the Southwest is now.

“It is no news that the Southwest zone has been at the forefront of not only medical education but also conventional Western education (thanks to our great forefathers); unfortunately, these are fast becoming past glories. Infrastructure and equipment are long gone. The personnel we once boasted of are being thrown into the sea through the actions and inactions of our educational managers at the helm of affairs in the universities in our zone.

“We must, at this juncture, appreciate the efforts of the university management ably led by the Vice-Chancellors and the Governing Councils of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Lagos State University (LASU), Osun State University, the University of Benin (UNIBEN), the University of Medical Sciences Ondo, and Edo State University, Ekpoma, who have commenced the implementation of CONMESS for clinical lecturers, at least to preserve what is left of the sanctity of their medical education.

“However, we demand that the following issues be addressed: Immediate Implementation of CONMESS: We demand the immediate implementation of CONMESS for all clinical lecturers in universities with medical schools in the South-West region. Payment of Outstanding Arrears: We demand the payment of outstanding arrears for clinical lecturers who have been denied the CONMESS salary structure in the last four years. Harmonization of Emoluments: We demand the harmonization of emoluments for clinical lecturers with their counterparts in other federal and state universities.

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“We urge the governing councils and management of universities in the South-West region to promptly address these demands to avoid sustained disruptions in clinical academic activities. We also call on the Federal Government to intervene and ensure that CONMESS is implemented across all universities with medical schools.

“Today is the 23rd day of this industrial action, and no notable response has been received from our Vice-Chancellors. This will continue until the right chord is struck and the right thing is done.

“We call on all well-meaning educationists, key stakeholders, opinion leaders, traditional rulers, government representatives, and the general public across the Southwest and the country at large to come to the aid of clinical lecturers who are being treated unfairly, unjustly, and with untoward pain.”

They called on the Minister of Education to expedite action, saying they did not want the future of the children jeopardized.

They maintained that the development would worsen the brain drain the country is experiencing.

“The medical profession is gradually going down. What will become of our education in the Southwest?” they concluded.