By FATIMA MOHAMMED-LAWAL

The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), University of Ilorin Branch, have declared support for the national body’s decision to give the Federal Government a fresh 21-day ultimatum.

The branch declared Its support in a communiqué issued on Saturday in Ilorin and signed by the Branch Chairman, Prof. Mohammed Abdulkadir, and Secretary, Dr Adebayo Oloko.

According to the communique, the decision was reached by Congress after it reviewed developments on the outstanding demands of its members and the resolutions of the Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) of NAMDA.

It said that the 21-day ultimatum was to address the long-standing concerns of medical and dental academics in the country and that the ultimatum, would expire on Aug. 31.

The branch expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as the government’s slow pace and lack of urgency in concluding negotiations and resolving the issues affecting medical and dental academics in tertiary institutions and teaching hospitals.

The communique listed key demands of the association to include delays in concluding negotiations with NAMDA and implementing agreed resolutions.

“There is poor prioritisation of medical and dental education, training and research in spite of Nigeria’s severe shortage of doctors and dentists.

“We also have brain drain of trained medical professionals and academics to other countries, with implications for undergraduate and postgraduate training and healthcare delivery,” it said.

The association also lamented the welfare and working conditions of medical and dental academics, which it said must be improved to retain staff and sustain the quality of medical education.

“Members have demonstrated considerable patience and restraint in the interest of maintaining stability within the university system and protecting the education of students,” the communiqué stated.

The branch acknowledged interventions by the Department of State Services and other stakeholders, but insisted that such interventions must now yield “concrete, measurable and time-bound outcomes.”

The union, however urged the federal government and relevant authorities to use the 21-day window to conclude negotiations and resolve the outstanding matters.

It warned that failure to do so would leave the association with no option but to act in line with directives from the national leadership.

“We call on students, parents, members of the public and other stakeholders to prevail upon the government to urgently address these matters and avert avoidable disruption to medical education, research and healthcare services,” the branch added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAMDA is a registered academic trade union for medical and dental lecturers in Nigerian public universities and teaching hospitals. (NAN)

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