The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has announced it will assess the progress of its outstanding demands by mid-December. This follows the suspension of their seven-day warning strike, which had been triggered by concerns over unmet demands. Prof Muhammad Muhammad, the National President of MDCAN, confirmed that the decision to suspend the strike came after constructive engagement with the Federal Government.
Muhammad stated that the association’s primary concern regarding the leadership of the Governing Council at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) had been addressed, and that further discussions were held with the Ministries of Education and Health, under the guidance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, to resolve other issues.
The key demands addressed include the removal of the UNIZIK council chairman for insubordination and the implementation of a timeline for resolving the MDCAN’s grievances. Muhammad also emphasized that the association would continue to monitor developments and honor the agreement made during the conciliation meeting with the government.
The MDCAN is advocating for the harmonization of the retirement age for medical consultants to 70 years, improved payment structures, and the resolution of clinical duty allowance arrears for 2023 and 2024. The association has committed to reviewing the status of these issues during its National Executive Council meeting in mid-December.