The medical school at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, comprising the Faculties of Medicine and Basic Clinical Sciences, has been non-functional for 12 days due to a strike by clinical lecturers who are members of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN).
These lecturers, responsible for teaching and training medical students in theory, clinics, and theatre, withdrew their services in protest against the exclusion of their members from applying for the vacant vice-chancellorship position at the university.
Speaking to journalists in Nnewi on Tuesday, Dr. Sunday Oriji, Secretary of MDCAN, explained that the university’s recent advertisement for the vice-chancellorship role listed requirements that barred medical professors from applying. He emphasized that the association would continue its strike until the university’s management rectified the situation, leaving the medical school at a standstill.
He said, “The acting vice chancellor is a seasoned lawyer, and we know she will do what is right. We duly notified them of our moves before we embarked on them.
“The congress observed that the advertisement required that an applicant for the position of Vice Chancellor of NAU must possess a first degree, Master’s degree, and a PhD.
“The academic pathway of the clinical lecturers, in NAU and globally, does not fit into the above. That advert deliberately excludes all of our members in the faculties of Medicine and Basic Clinical sciences. It is a complete deviation from similar adverts of the past for the position.
“We have duly notified the relevant bodies and offices of our withdrawal of services, and that will continue to be so until the university’s management does what is right.”
The clinical lecturers had written to the Ag. Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, Awka, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umeobi, to protest the advertisement for the position of Vice Chancellor, which they alleged excluded their members from vying.
The group later went on strike after the expiration of a seven days ultimatum, to protest the development, a move that has long plunged the school into distress for about two weeks now.
