Fourteen branches of the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) have voted to embark on a three-day nationwide warning strike beginning next Tuesday.
The Association said it was proceeding with the industrial action after the Federal Government failed to conclude negotiations on the welfare and conditions of service of medical lecturers across the country.
According to a press release signed by NAMDA National Secretary Professor Aniekan Peter, the FG has not formally documented the payment of medical lecturers under the CONMESS salary structure.
Prof Peter also cited the non-payment of MCATA EAA, Excess Workload Allowance, and Professorial Allowance as reasons for the strike.
The press release reads, ‘Despite the dearth of medical lecturers and the worsening ‘Japa’ syndrome, the federal government appears to have continued to ignore the legitimate concerns of medical lecturers.
‘Medical lecturers are therefore being pushed into an avoidable strike. The warning strike is scheduled to commence next Tuesday and will be total and comprehensive across medical schools in the country.
‘The critical issues affecting medical lecturers include: Failure of the Federal Government, through the Ahmed Yahale Committee, to conclude negotiations on the conditions of service of medical lecturers.
‘At a time when the country is already experiencing a severe shortage of medical lecturers, it is unfortunate that the Government is allowing these avoidable issues to escalate.
‘The ‘crime’ of these elite doctors is simply that they have chosen to stay back and serve their country despite the harsh economic realities they face.
‘We call on the Federal Government to listen, return to the negotiating table and resolve these issues before the warning strike becomes inevitable.’