The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics has announced that 14 of its 17 branches have voted in favour of a three-day warning strike.

The industrial action is scheduled to begin on Tuesday next week, following a directive from the National Executive Council.

In a statement issued in Uyo, Acting Secretary-General Prof. Aniekan Peter said the strike would be total and cover all medical schools across the country. He expressed concern that the Federal Government had failed to address the legitimate demands of medical lecturers despite a serious shortage of teaching staff and the continuing migration of doctors.

Peter listed key unresolved issues, including the unfinished negotiations on conditions of service through the Ahmed Yahale Committee, the failure to formally document payments under the CONMESS salary structure, and the non-payment of several allowances.

These include MCATA, Earned Academic Allowance, Excess Workload Allowance and Professorial Allowance.

He said it was unfortunate that these problems had been allowed to worsen at a time when the country already faces a severe lack of medical lecturers.

The association questioned why those who choose to stay and train future doctors should face such difficulties.

The group called on the Federal Government to return to the negotiating table and resolve the matters before the warning strike becomes unavoidable. It also criticised plans to produce large numbers of new doctors without first improving the welfare and pay of the lecturers who train them.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper