By Sekinat Salahudeen
NAMDA Refutes Strike Rumour, Reaffirms Independence of Medical Lecturers’ Union
The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has dismissed reports claiming that its members are on strike, insisting that the union remains fully committed to its duties.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Dr. Nosa Lancy-Orhue, Secretary-General, Dr. Abdulrahman Shehu, and National Liaison Officer, Dr. Muhammad Askira, NAMDA clarified its position on Wednesday in Abuja.
The association, which represents medical lecturers in universities, tertiary hospitals, and research institutions across Nigeria, said it continues to operate as an autonomous trade union with the mandate to protect the welfare and professional interests of medical and dental academic.
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“NAMDA is not on strike, and we will not be blackmailed, coaxed, or lured away from the interest of our members,” the statement emphasized.
According to NAMDA, the clarification became necessary following numerous enquiries from stakeholders about its stance on the ongoing strike by another academic union within the university system.
While acknowledging that its members have faced long-term neglect, the association said it supports genuine and lawful demands — provided they do not undermine its members’ interests.
NAMDA noted that it is currently in productive discussions with the Federal Government, facilitated by the Ministries of Labour and Education, to address key concerns affecting medical lecturers.
Among the major issues highlighted were:
Implementation of the Consolidated Medical Workers Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Withdrawal of the compulsory PhD requirement for medical lecturers who already possess postgraduate fellowships, for both academic promotion and eligibility for Vice-Chancellor positions.
Approval of the scheme of service based on memorandum CM(90)92 from the 1990 Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by late Chief Justice Atanda Fatai Williams.
The association also raised concerns over the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), alleging that some university authorities, in collaboration with another union, attempted to exclude its members from the payment.
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It specifically mentioned Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, where the Governing Council reportedly declared that medical lecturers were not eligible for the allowance. NAMDA added that it had petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the conflicting letters from the Office of the Accountant-General regarding the matter.
NAMDA welcomed the Education Minister’s apology for the error in the AGF’s correspondence and reaffirmed its readiness to continue engagement through the government’s negotiation committee.
The statement further stressed:”The conditions of service for medical and dental lecturers can only be effectively negotiated by medical academics under NAMDA.”
NAMDA urged the Federal Government to expedite the circularisation of CONMESS and direct the National Universities Commission (NUC) to officially withdraw the circular enforcing PhD requirements for fellowship holders.
While reserving the right to adopt legal or constitutional means to advance its demands, the union cautioned that any future withdrawal of service by its members would be done in accordance with its constitution — and warned that such an action could have serious repercussions for both the education and health sectors.