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The medical school of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, comprising the faculties of Medicine and Basic Clinical Sciences, Nnewi Campus, has remained non-functional for 12 days now, following the withdrawal of services by clinical lecturers, who are members of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria.
The medical school is the arm of the institution, charged with the teaching and training of undergraduate students of medicine, both in theory, in clinics and in theatre.
The Secretary of the Association, Dr Sunday Oriji, who spoke to journalists in Nnewi on Tuesday, said they withdrew their services to protest the exclusion of their members from vying for the vacant vice-chancellorship position of the school.
Oriji said an advertisement published by the authorities of the school, had notified the public of the vacancy in the vice chancellorship position, listing requirements that excluded medical professors from vying for the position.
He said the association will not back down, and that the medical college of the institution will remain crippled until the university’s management does the right thing.
He said, “The acting vice chancellor is a seasoned lawyer, and we know she will do what is right. We duly notified them of our moves before we embarked on them.
“The congress observed that the advertisement required that an applicant for the position of Vice Chancellor of NAU must possess a first degree, Master’s degree, and a PhD.
“The academic pathway of the clinical lecturers, in NAU and globally, does not fit into the above. That advert deliberately excludes all of our members in the faculties of Medicine and Basic Clinical sciences. It is a complete deviation from similar advert of the past for the position.
“We have duly notified the relevant bodies and offices of our withdrawal of services, and that will continue to be so until the university’s management does what is right.”
The clinical lecturers had written to the Ag. Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, Awka, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umeobi, to protest the advertisement for the position of Vice Chancellor, which they alleged excluded their members from vying.
The group later went on strike after the expiration of a seven days ultimatum, to protest the development, a move that has long plunged the school into distress for about two weeks now.
