The National Executive Council (NEC) of MDCAN cautioned that failure to address these issues may result in the inability to guarantee the ongoing services of its members, who possess Medical and Dental Fellowships nationwide.
This announcement was made in a statement released to the press in Jos, Plateau State, following an extraordinary virtual meeting of the NEC.
The statement, co-signed by MDCAN President Prof. Aminu Mohammad and Secretary Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim, urged members to consider legal and appropriate actions, including the withdrawal of services, in instances where Vice Chancellor job postings are biased against Medical and Dental Lecturers.
The statement emphasised: “NEC has resolved that any unlawful and discriminatory treatment of holders of Medical and Dental Fellowship qualifications will no longer be tolerated.”
The NEC urged individuals impacted by discriminatory advertisements to pursue legal action to protect their constitutional rights.
Additionally, the NEC voiced its disapproval of Nigerian universities imposing a PhD requirement for the Vice Chancellor position, while failing to acknowledge Medical and Dental Fellowships as equivalent academic and professional qualifications that could substitute for a PhD.
MDCAN also criticized the government's inaction regarding the alignment of the retirement age for medical consultants to 70 years, highlighting the increasing need for their academic and professional expertise.
MDCAN pointed out that these consultants play a crucial role in training medical students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in addition to delivering specialized care in teaching hospitals and federal medical centers.
Furthermore, the association urged the federal government to accelerate the alignment of Clinical Medical Lecturers' salaries with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to rectify inconsistencies in their pay, entry levels, and pensions.
Finally, the NEC commended its members for their efforts in contesting discriminatory advertisements that aim to prevent medical lecturers from participating in university leadership.