Medical consultants in Nigeria suspend the strike to assess progress in December

On By Pranco

The association had declared a seven-day warning strike on Monday over the alleged inability of the government to take significant steps to meet its demands.

The Association of Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria (MDCAN) has suspended its seven-day warning strike.

MDCAN National President Mohammad Mohammad, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday evening, said the strike had been suspended after the Federal Government agreed to meet its demands.

Mr Mohammad noted that the National Executive Council (NEC) of MDCAN would meet in mid-December to review the progress made on the association’s outstanding demands.

“We have agreed on all issues, on what needs to be done, and on a timeline. We will continue to push for the realization of these demands,” he said.

“The association will honor the document signed during the conciliation meeting with the Federal Government, led by the Minister of Labor and Employment, and will continue to monitor developments as they unfold.”

Labor action, consultants’ demands

The association did this on Monday declared a seven-day warning strike over the government’s perceived inability to take significant steps to meet its demands.

Although the association’s members adhered to the guidelines to embark on strike, health services continued to be provided in some hospitals in Abuja, the country’s capital, and Lagos State.

Findings by PREMIUM TIMES show that while the strike disrupted elective services in some facilities, emergency and critical care remained operational while hospitals acted to mitigate the impact of the industrial action.

One of the concerns raised by the consultants was the exclusion of medical and dental lecturers in the selection process for the position of Vice Chancellor at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State. The association also demanded the immediate removal of the chairman of the university’s Board of Governors, accusing him of insubordination.

Reacting to this, President Bola Tinubu said on Wednesday: dissolved The UNIZIK Board of Directors dismissed Bernard Odoh as Vice Chancellor and dismissed Rosemary Nwokike as Registrar.

The President emphasized that university councils must ensure the smooth functioning of institutions in accordance with their founding laws. He warned against actions that disrupted university operations as his government focused on improving the country’s education standards.