By Patrick Ekpoh, Uyo
THE Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State branch, has given the management of the University of Uyo a 21-day ultimatum beginning from April 2nd, to address all issues concerning the welfare of medical lecturers in the University.
The state chairman of the association, Dr Aniekan Peter announced the ultimatum at a press conference held at Doctor’s mess in Uyo on Wednesday.
He lamented that medical lecturers in the University had yet to be migrated to Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in line with approval of the University of Uyo Governing Council.
He said efforts to meet with the Vice Chancellor, professor Nyaudo Ndaeyo, to address the concern and other issues were rebuffed by the VC.
While emphasising that the decision was reached at the
the end of the Association’s emergency meeting held on March 31, 2025, the chairman
warned that the association will embark on indefinite strike if nothing was done by the University management to address the issues within the window period.
The communique reads in part, “Arising from an Emergency General Meeting of our Association held on the 31st March 2025, concerning the welfare of medical lecturers in the University of Uyo, Congress noted the following:
“That there is a protracted delay in the promotion of Some Medical lecturers with concurrent loss of remuneration especially at this time of hardship in the country and mass exodus of medical doctors.
“That that there is grossly inadequate Medical lecturers and medical officers at the Health Centre working in the University. This has caused immense stress and excess 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 (CONMESS) in line with approval of the University of Uyo Governing Council, with immediate payment of arrears, as applicable in some other federal Universities in Nigeria.
“The immediate promotion of due Medical lecturers in the University without further delay with payment of promotion arrears to all medical lecturers and immediate payment of outstanding three and a half month salaries to Medical lecturers.
“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.
“The leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association Akwa Ibom State Branch is willing and ready to meet with the University management at any convenient time within the 21-day window starting from 2nd of April 2025.
“We look forward to a cordial working relationship with the University management” he said
The director of Information, of University of Uyo ,Mr Udoro Udoekpo, when contacted did not respond as it is a labour matter which can only be handled by the VC himself. However, the VC’s lines were not reachable at the time of filing this report.
