Medical and dental schools in the South-West of Nigeria have started paying doctors under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). This includes members of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN)
The payments began after MDCAN members in the region ended the indefinite strike they started in February because they weren’t being paid the CONMESS salary.
Dr. AbdulKareem Salawu, the MDCAN chairman in the South-West, confirmed the update during a conversation with reporter.
He said that some schools, like the University of Lagos, the University of Ibadan, and Obafemi Awolowo University, have already started paying.
He also said that Obafemi Awolowo University is paying the basic parts of the salary for now and has promised to pay the rest when they get enough funds.
However, two state universities — Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in Oyo State and Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State — have not started paying yet.
Dr. Salawu said both universities have promised to begin payment soon, and progress is being made.
He explained that the strike was called off after many discussions and negotiations with different parties.
He said they reached an agreement with school management before ending the strike. Senior doctors also helped resolve the issue, and they held talks with the government, Labour Ministry, and Education Ministry.
Dr. Salawu said the strike was necessary to stop medical teachers from leaving for other jobs where they would be paid better or even moving abroad.
He admitted that the strike caused some disruptions in school, but promised that the academic calendar would not be affected in the long term.
He explained that medical training has strict time requirements. For example, students must complete at least 40 weeks of preclinical training. If 10 weeks were already done before the strike, they must still complete the remaining 30 weeks. This rule cannot be changed.
He said medical education must be thorough because it deals with human lives. The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria won’t allow anything less than full training.—Let me know if you’d like this summarized even further!
