NAMDA Denies Strike Reports, Reaffirms Autonomy of Medical Lecturers’ Union
By Agency Report
Abuja | October 15, 2025
The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has dismissed rumours claiming that its members have joined an ongoing strike within the university system.
In a statement signed by Dr. Nosa Lancy-Orhue (President), Dr. Abdulrahman Shehu (Secretary-General), and Dr. Muhammad Askira (National Liaison Officer), NAMDA reaffirmed its independence and stated that it remains focused on addressing the welfare of medical lecturers.
“NAMDA is not on strike, and we will not be blackmailed, coaxed, or lured away from the interest of our members,” the association said.
The group clarified that it continues to hold discussions with the Federal Government through the Ministries of Labour and Education, describing the engagements as “encouraging.”
NAMDA noted that the Minister of Education, in a recent meeting facilitated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, pledged to resolve critical issues affecting medical lecturers. These include:
- Implementation of the Consolidated Medical Workers Salary Structure (CONMESS).
- Withdrawal of the compulsory PhD requirement for medical lecturers who already hold postgraduate fellowships.
- Approval of the 1990 scheme of service for medical academics.
The association also called attention to the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) controversy, where some universities allegedly attempted to exclude its members. NAMDA said it has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate conflicting letters from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation on the matter.
“The conditions of service for medical and dental lecturers cannot be satisfactorily negotiated by anyone but medical academics under NAMDA,” the union stated.
NAMDA urged the Federal Government to speed up the circularisation of CONMESS and direct the National Universities Commission (NUC) to reaffirm the withdrawal of the circular mandating PhDs for medical lecturers with postgraduate fellowships.
The union also emphasized that while it reserves the right to use legitimate means, including legal actions, any future withdrawal of service would strictly follow its constitutional provisions — warning that such a move could have grave implications for both the education and health sectors.
