The Clinical lecturers under the aegis of Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka have embarked on an indefinite strike.
The lecturers under the body of all Medical and Dental Specialists with Medical Fellowship announced the commencement of the strike in a statement issued in Awka on Wednesday.
The statement was signed by Dr Victor Modekwe and Dr Sunday Oriji, MDCAN-NAUTH Chairman and Secretary respectively.
The statement said the industrial action entails the withdrawal of all the medical/clinical lecturers from the Faculties of Medicine, Basic Clinical Sciences and Basic Medical Sciences, from all academic functions.
It said that the strike was to protest the alleged deliberate exclusion of its members from contesting for the position of Vice-Chancellor at NAU.
It observed that the vacancy advert indicated that an applicant for the position of Vice-Chancellor must possess a first degree, Master’s degree and a PhD.
According to the statement, the academic pathway of clinical lecturers in NAU and globally did not fit into the criteria laid down in the vacancy advert.
“Recall that we specifically asked for the withdrawal of the obnoxious vacancy advert for the position of the Vice-Chancellor of NAU in order to guarantee industrial harmony.
“We observed that up till now the vacancy advert still stands and our members remained excluded from the contest of Vice-Chancellor, for two weeks now.
“The congress therefore, resolved to proceed on an indefinite withdrawal of services by all the clinical lecturers of NAU until this advert is withdrawn,” he said.
