The medical school of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Nnewi is still closed as clinical lecturers continue their strike in response to the alleged exclusion of their members from the race for the institution’s next Vice Chancellor (VC).
The strike, led by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), has significantly disrupted the academic calendar, particularly affecting final-year medical students, some of whom have been pursuing their degrees for as long as eight years.
The lecturers’ primary concern stems from a recent advertisement for the VC position that mandates candidates to hold a PhD. This requirement effectively excludes clinical lecturers, who argue that their Fellowships in various medical branches should be considered equivalent to a PhD. Many of these lecturers have served as professors for decades.
On August 2, 2024, the lecturers submitted a letter to the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umeobi, protesting their exclusion from the VC selection process. Despite their grievances, the university’s governing council has yet to respond, leading to the ongoing strike, which entered its 12th day on Monday.
MDCAN Secretary Dr. Sunday Oriji expressed that the medical college will remain closed until the university management resolves the issue. He noted, “The Acting Vice Chancellor is a seasoned lawyer, and we trust she will do what is right. We formally notified them of our intentions before embarking on the strike. Our congress observed that the advert for the VC position requires a first degree, Master’s degree, and PhD, but the academic pathway for clinical lecturers, both in UNIZIK and globally, does not align with this.”
Oriji also highlighted that the exclusion of clinical lecturers from the faculties of Medicine and Basic Clinical Sciences represents a significant departure from previous advertisements for the VC role. He emphasized that their withdrawal of services will continue until the university takes appropriate action, stating, “The advert deliberately excludes all of our members, and we will maintain the strike until the university’s management addresses this injustice.”