Ojukwu varsity teaching hospital doctors begin indefinite strike

• FUTO develops sexual harassment, plagiarism policy
• Graduates 2,554 with 62 first class

The Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria (MDCAN) of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Anambra State, has begun indefinite strike over issues of salary and general working condition.

Coming five months after it suspended a warning strike on the matter, MDCAN, in its ‘Notice of Commencement of an Indefinite Strike’ dated November 29 in Awka yesterday, said the action commenced on the midnight preceding December 1, 2019.

Chairman of MDCAN, COOUTH chapter, Dr. Chukwudi Okani, who signed the notice, directed members to shut down their units and discharge patients before proceeding, just.

He also urged them to disregard any information regarding the strike from other quarters than the MDCAN executive.

“You are by this letter notified that our strike commences from midnight of November 30. We are, therefore, expected to comply fully with this notice. We are expected to receive information from our leaders/servants as the matters unfold.

According to the consultants, they would return to work on the condition that Anambra government pays them minimum of 70 per cent of the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS).

But Anambra government, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C-Don Adinuba, said it had met the demands of the doctors, including diagnostics and conditions of service for COOUTH, which guaranteed their promotions.

Meanwhile, the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) has developed a policy framework for the stoppage of sexual harassment on the students by lecturers.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francis Eze, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists on the institution’s convocation slated for Saturday, November 7.

He said: “It is important that I inform you that the university has developed the sexual harassment policy. This document spells out what constitutes sexual harassment, as well as appropriate sanctions for it.

“In the same vein, anti-plagiarism policy and university research policy have been developed, awaiting approval of the senate and council, to promote and maintain academic standards and protect intellectual work.”

According to Eze, the institution has established an outfit that converts wastes to products such as bottles, shredded cards to paints, inter-locking stones and tiles. The outfit is manned by Dr. Nnamdi Iheaturu of Department of Polymer and Textile, and the Chief Laboratory Supervisor, Mr. Vincent Uchegbu.

Sixty-two students will bag first class degrees out of the 2,554 students who will be graduating.

Visitor of the institution, President Muhammadu Buhari, is expected at the occasion.