Nigerian doctors seek 70-year retirement age in new FEC memo

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has announced significant strides in its advocacy for better conditions for medical professionals.

Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, is preparing to submit a memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) addressing the association’s demand to harmonise the retirement age for medical consultants at 70 years.

In a related effort, Prof. Pate, alongside the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, will present a joint proposal to the Presidential Committee on Salaries. This proposal seeks the universal application of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to medical lecturers across all institutions.

These developments follow a recent seven-day warning strike initiated by MDCAN on November 18. The strike, however, was suspended after six days due to government intervention, which resolved a key issue concerning the Vice-Chancellor position at Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

MDCAN remains steadfast in its demands, emphasizing the need to harmonise the retirement age for medical consultants to 70 years and ensure the universal application of CONMESS to all medical and dental officers.

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Speaking on the progress of these initiatives, MDCAN President, Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, expressed optimism. He confirmed ongoing discussions and the submission of the memos as a critical step toward resolving the association’s demands.

“We have seen the draft of the memo and included our input, but I am unsure of its current stage with the ministers. They are in the process of submitting it to the Federal Executive Council for consideration,” he said.

“The Minister of Health and the Minister of Education will jointly submit the memo on salary harmonisation to the Presidential Committee on Salaries.

We urge them to fulfil their commitments from the conciliation process to resolve these issues before our next meeting in January 2025.”

MDCAN’s next meeting is scheduled to take place from January 20 to 25, 2025, where further actions may be determined.

(Punch)