FG moves to avert doctors’ strike, writes ministries

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has written to the Ministries of Education, Finance, Labour and Employment regarding the demands of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria.

The MDCAN had issued a 21-day ultimatum from October 21 to November 11, to stakeholders, including the Federal Government, to address its demands, or its members will withdraw their services nationwide.

The association expressed concerns regarding the exclusion of medical and dental lecturers based on the criteria used in the appointment for the selection process for the office of the Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

It also demands the harmonisation of the retirement age of medical and dental consultants to 70 years to mitigate the effects of doctors’ migration; and the payment of the emoluments of medical lecturers with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to correct the shortfalls in their emolument, entry level, and their pension.

Speaking with our correspondent on the update of the meeting held with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other stakeholders on Thursday, the National President of MDCAN, Prof Muhammad Muhammad said plans were underway to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the government regarding the association’s demands.

“We had a meeting with the Ministry of Health, the Minister of Labour, the National Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission, and some other stakeholders that have to do with the negotiations; but the Ministry of Education was not present.

“We discussed the issues raised one after the other, and we had some areas of disagreements, and then we’ve charted a way forward for the areas that we agreed. Presently, the Minister of Health is writing to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labour on some of the issues that they need to handle.

“So, we are waiting for both the resolution of the meeting, and then the letters. Currently, the file is in his office. We are waiting to collect our own copy. The minister is writing to the Ministry of Education regarding the issue of disenfranchisement. He is writing to the Head of Service regarding the issue of harmonisation, and we want him to help us take the issue to the Federal Executive Council, at least, that probably will make it easier to get approval so we can begin the footwork,” Muhammad stated.

The don noted that the request on the payment of the emoluments of medical lecturers with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure is beyond the Ministry of Health, but it is writing to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation for the necessary action.

“Once we get our copies of the letters, we will take them to our members at the emergency meeting on Monday. If it is acceptable to the members, fine, but if it is not, then we now push ahead with the decision from us,” he added.