Medical consultants issue six-week ultimatum to FG
The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria has issued a six-week ultimatum to the Federal Government over what the association tagged “slow pace of addressing issues relating to members.”
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This was disclosed by the President of MDCAN, Dr. Victor Makanjuola, in an interview on Thursday.
This is as the association accused the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Victor Osodeke, of constantly attacking members of MDCAN.
“Many of our members are being owed several months of salaries in some federal and state government hospitals across the country.
“The NEC has resolved to further allow a period of not more than six weeks for robust negotiations during which or at the expiration of which any observation of foot-dragging by the Federal Government will result in immediate withdrawal of services by our members,” he said.
Similarly, the MDCAN, in a communique titled, “Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria emergency National Executive Council Virtual meeting” which was jointly signed by the President, Makanjuola; and Secretary-General, Dr. Yemi Raji, accused the ASUU president of unwarranted attacks on the association.
Part of the communique read, “We have noted the unwarranted attack on our postgraduate Medical and Dental Fellowship by the National President of ASUU on the eligibility of fellowship holders for the position of Vice-Chancellor in Nigerian universities. His attacks have been met with utter dismay and shock.
“NEC condemned in strongest of terms the exhibition of crass ignorance by the national president of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, for his uninformed and jaundiced opinion on the eligibility of postgraduate Medical and Dental Fellowship for the position of Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian universities.”
ASUU maintains stand on PhD and medical fellowship
But the ASUU President, Osodeke, in a separate interview with The PUNCH reiterated his stance on the issue of PhD and medical fellowship.
He said, “The NUC is the one regulating universities, and according to them, the minimum requirement of becoming a VC is PhD.
“MDCAN that is talking; haven’t they read the NUC guideline? Or has the NUC come out to say they have issued another guideline?
“The Medical fellowship is a professional certification while the PhD is an academic qualification. Normally, I would not have replied to them because I can’t be trading insults.”
MTO/Punch