Clinical lecturers in universities in the South-East/South-South zones of Nigeria have commenced a one week strike, to protest against the “discriminatory exclusion” of clinical lecturers from the eligibility criteria for the position of Vice- Chancellor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, as contained in the recently advertised vacancy.
Some of the discriminatory points raised by the association in the UNIZIK advertorial are that candidates must possess a PhD.
MDCAN posits that this automatically excludes clinical lecturers employed as Fellows of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Physicians/Surgeons.
Others are that candidates must be supervising PhD students and that they must have attracted research grants of no less than N400m.
In a statement signed by Dr. Iroro Yarhere, chairman MDCAN South East Caucus and Dr. Stanley Ogbonna, MDCAN said their exclusion is unacceptable as it sets a dangerous precedent
As a result of this, MDCAN said clinical lecturers in the universities across the South-East and South- South regions have resolved to embark on a five-day solidarity and warning strike..
The association said the industrial action is effective from Monday (today), October 24, 2024, to register our unequivocal opposition to this unfair exclusion.
MDCAN contends that if this exclusionary test case at Nnamdi Azikiwe University is not reversed, it threatens to cause ripples across other universities.
MDCAN urged the Committees of Vice Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors to intervene promptly and ensure that this discriminatory advert is reviewed.
Throwing his weight behind the industrial action, Professor Friday Odey, Chairman of MDCAN said clinical lecturers in the University of Calabar are joining the strike in solidarity with their colleagues in UNIZIK because what goes around, comes around.
He added that the strike action will only affect services in the university and not hospitals in the State.
