Education
By Kennedy Nnamani
THE Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, has responded to the accusation of the Usman Danfodio University, UDUS chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, against Chris Ngige, the minister of labour, employment and productivity, Prof. Lawal Bilbis, the Vice Chancellor of Usman Danfodio University, and Professor Esther Olufunmilayo Asekun-Olarinmoye, Provost of the College of Health Sciences, UDUS.
In a statement signed by Dr. B. Jibrin and Dr. I. G. Ango, chairman and secretary of MDCAN respectively, the association vehemently dissociated itself from the accusation, noting that both the minister of labour, the VC of UDUS and the provost of CHS UDUS carried out their lawful duties.
The statement reads in bit:
· The ASUU embarked on a strike on 14th February 2022 whilst students were in session.
· Medical students in UDUS were in the final stages of their postings and being prepared for their examinations.
· These postings were briefly disrupted but due to the University’s understanding of the peculiarities of medical education and practice and the belief by medical lecturers that this critical sector cannot withstand these disruptions; the CHS was encouraged to proceed with outstanding postings, which culminated in the conduct of examinations for students, including the final year students.
· The Honorable Minister Labour, Employment and Productivity alluded to this in a press briefing he gave on 14th of July 2022 and ASUU-UDUS Branch contradicted the Minister despite being fully aware of the conduct of these examinations.
· The MDCAN had to clarify the true position of things to the Minister that the postings and examinations of the students took place.
· The University administration went further to officially confirm that the medical lecturers indeed performed their academic duties, and this was communicated to the Minister in writing.
· The Chairman MDCAN UDUTH Sokoto has not, either privately or publicly denied the fact that the postings and examinations for the students were conducted by the medical lecturers.
· The ASUU-UDUS Branch Chairman is aware of all of the above.
While highlighting the peculiarities of the CHS UDUS, the association noted that the college is the only fully accredited institution for training medical doctors in the former Sokoto State comprising Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States. Any disruption of medical training will further worsen the already acute shortage of medical doctors within the sub-region.
The association further defended its decision by noting that “we wrote and sought the intervention of the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity to ensure payment of our salaries.
“The Minister, having carefully reviewed our submission and that of the University Management, obliged.
“This is not an act of favoritism as alleged by the ASUU-UDUS branch leadership in their press statement.”
It will be recalled that ASUU, in a statement accused the Federal Government through Chris Ngige of selecting the medical lecturers at the Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto for payment of their seven months salaries, while other academic staff were left unattended to there by favouring his professional colleagues.
MDCAN prayed the ASUU-UDUS branch and its members to appreciate the differences or peculiarities of medical education by legitimately fighting for its lawful rights without trampling on the rights of others.
KN
Tags: Chris Ngige Dr. I. G. Ango MDCAN Prof. Lawal Bilbis Professor Esther Olufunmilayo Asekun-Olarinmoye Usman Danfodio University
