A’Ibom NMA threatens strike over medical lecturers’ pay
The Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State branch, has given the management of the University of Uyo a 21-day ultimatum beginning from April 2 to address all issues concerning the welfare of medical lecturers in the university.
The association warned that if nothing was done within the window period, it would have no option but to embark on an indefinite strike to press home its demands.
The state chairman of the association, Dr Aniekan Peter, who briefed journalists at the Doctor’s Mess in Uyo, said the decision to issue the ultimatum was reached at the end of the association’s emergency meeting held on March 31, 2025.
Peter, who read out the communique issued at the end of its emergency meeting, lamented that medical lecturers had yet to be migrated to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, in line with the approval of the University of Uyo governing council.
“Arising from an emergency general meeting of our association held on March 31, 2025, concerning the welfare of medical lecturers in the University of Uyo, congress noted that there is a protracted delay in the promotion of some medical lecturer with concurrent loss of remuneration, especially at this time of hardship in the country and mass exodus of medical doctors.
“The congress also noted that there are grossly inadequate medical lecturers and medical officers at the health centre working in the university. This has caused immense stress and unnecessary workload on our members.
“Sequel to the above concerns, the NMA Akwa Ibom State branch has resolved that the university management should migrate all medical doctors who are lecturers to Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, in line with the approval of the University of Uyo governing council, with immediate payment of arrears, as applicable in some other federal universities in Nigeria, the communique read.
It added that “A 21-day ultimatum be issued to the management of the University of Uyo to implement all the demands.
“That failure to implement those concerns, the Nigerian Medical Association will proceed on an indefinite strike without further notice to press down its demands.”
When contacted, the institution’s Director of Information, Mr Udoro Udoekpo, could not respond but promised to forward the issue to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Nyaudo Ndaeyo.
The telephone lines of the vice-chancellor were, however, not reachable at the time of filing this report.
