Consultant doctors embark on strike over NUC PhD requirement

The Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has embarked on an indefinite strike over the requirement by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for clinical lecturers to have a PhD.

Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, in Jos, the Plateau state capital, Kenneth Ozoilo, national president of MDCAN, said the action is to press home their demands.

According to him, a circular by the commission states that consultant doctors must obtain a PhD as a requirement to earn promotions at the university where they teach.

He said the circular must be withdrawn because it was done without due process.

“The decision of the NUC to embark on this policy direction, without due attention to the consequences and implications is, to say the least, embarrassing” he said.

“Consequently, we are left with no further choice than to withdraw our services from the Universities with immediate effect.”