By Christopher Tom, Uyo
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State branch, has given the management of the University of Uyo (Uniuyo) a 21-day ultimatum, starting from April 2, 2025, to address all outstanding issues concerning the welfare of medical lecturers at the institution.
The association warned that failure to meet its demands within the stipulated period would result in an indefinite strike. The chairman of the association in the state, Dr. Aniekan Peter, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Doctor’s Mess in Uyo. He stated that the decision to issue the ultimatum was reached at the end of an emergency meeting held on March 31, 2025.
Reading the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, Dr. Peter lamented that medical lecturers had yet to be migrated to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), despite the approval of the University of Uyo Governing Council.
The communiqué reads in part:
“Arising from an Emergency General Meeting of our Association held on March 31, 2025, concerning the welfare of medical lecturers at the University of Uyo, Congress noted the following:
There is a protracted delay in the promotion of some medical lecturers, leading to a concurrent loss of remuneration, especially during this period of economic hardship and the mass exodus of medical professionals from the country.
There is a severe shortage of medical lecturers and medical officers at the university’s health center, which has resulted in immense stress, excessive workload, and undue pressure on existing staff.
“Sequel to the above concerns, the NMA Akwa Ibom State Branch has resolved as follows:
1. That the university management should immediately migrate all medical lecturers to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in line with the approval of the University of Uyo Governing Council and effect the immediate payment of arrears, as applicable in other federal universities in Nigeria.
2. That due promotions of medical lecturers in the university be implemented without further delay, along with the payment of promotion arrears.
3. That the immediate payment of outstanding salaries, amounting to three and a half months, be made to medical lecturers.
4. That a 21-day ultimatum be issued to the management of the University of Uyo to implement all the stated demands.
5. That failure to address these concerns within the given timeframe will compel the Nigerian Medical Association to embark on an indefinite strike without further notice.
“The leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State Branch, is willing and ready to engage with the university management at any convenient time within the 21-day window, starting from April 2, 2025. We look forward to a cordial working relationship with the university management.”
When contacted, the Director of Information at the University of Uyo, Mr. Udoro Udoekpo, declined to comment but assured that he would forward the issue to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nyaudo Ndaeyo, for a response. However, as of the time of filing this report, the Vice-Chancellor’s phone lines remained unreachable.
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