By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The clinical lecturers in universities in the South-East/South-South zones of Nigeria have expressed dismay and dissatisfaction over the discriminatory exclusion of clinical lecturers from the eligibility criteria for the position of Vice Chancellor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, as contained in the recently advertised vacancy.
A communique issued by the association and read by Prof Friday Odey Chairman, Medical & Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), said “we have observed that the selection criteria for the Vice-Chancellorship position as advertised stipulate the following”:
“That candidates must possess a PhD, which automatically excludes clinical lecturers employed as Fellows of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Physicians/Surgeons,
“That candidates must be supervising PhD students, which again unfairly disqualifies clinical lecturers whose primary academic responsibility involves thesupervision of medical residents and clinical fellows to be certified as Fellows of the Colleges, and
“That candidates must have attracted Research grants of no less than 400 million Naira,a criterion that ignores the realities of clinical research, which may not always attract such large funding but has significant impact on medical education and healthcaredelivery.
According to the communique, “this exclusion is unacceptable to us, as it sets a dangerous precedent. Should this be allowed to stand, it could encourage other universities to adopt similar exclusionary policies, effectively denigrating the Fellowship qualifications with which clinical lecturers were employed at the rank of Lecturer I or higher”.
It added that “this development also undermines the professional standing of clinical lecturers who have contributed immensely to the academic, research, and service delivery missions of their respective universities”.
Furthermore, “it is alarming that such arbitrary exclusions seek to erode the status of Fellowship qualifications, and dismiss the contributions of clinical lecturers to training, research, andinstitutional development”.
According to the communique, “as a result, clinical lecturers in universities across the South-East and South -South regions have resolved to embark on a five-day solidarity and warning strike, effective Monday 21st ,October, 2024, to register our unequivocal opposition to this unfair exclusion”.
“If this exclusionary test case at Nnamdi Azikiwe University is not reversed, it threatens to ripple across other universities, further marginalising our professional cadre and diminishing the relevance of our qualifications and contributions”, the communique added.
It urged the Committees of Vice Chancellors and Pro Chancellors to intervene promptly and ensure that this discriminatory advert is reviewed to accommodate clinical lecturers and uphold the principle of equity in leadership selection within our academic institutions.
“Clinical lecturers, it noted are vital to the success of universities, and any attempt to undermine their qualifications will not be tolerated.Failure to address this issue will leave us with no choice but to escalate our industrial action beyond the five-day warning strike, in defence of the integrity and relevance of our Fellowship qualifications and professional contributions.”
It appealed that this matter be given the urgent attention it deserves to avoid further disruptions.
