The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) chapter, has revealed that its members have withdrawn from teaching medical students.

Its President, Prof. Usang E. Usang, and Secretary, Dr Henry Okpa, made this known on Friday February 28 in a statement jointly signed and made available to newsmen in Lagos.

The association said the decision was taken at its “emergency general meeting (based) on the circular released by the National Universities Commission (NUC)”.

According to them, the circular dated December 24, 2019, addressed to Vice-Chancellors of Nigeria Universities, made PhD a requirement for career progression for clinical lecturers in Nigerian universities.

They said that the National Officers Committee (NOC) of MDCAN had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the NUC on January 31 to withdraw the “obnoxious and discriminatory circular.”

The association's leaders said that the NUC had failed to heed to the demands of MDCAN.

“Following the expiration of the ultimatum on Feb. 24, MDCAN, UCTH met and unanimously agreed to fully comply with the directives of the NOC of MDCAN.

“This is contained in the letter of notice of withdrawal of services of clinical lecturers,” they said in the statement.

The association’s president and secretary said that the implications of this directive involves the withdrawal of services of all clinical lecturers in the University of Calabar from the followings:

“All undergraduate and postgraduate teaching of all courses domiciled in the College of Medicine.

“All undergraduate and postgraduate examinations whether as internal or external examiners for courses domiciled in the College of Medicine.

“All lecturers, tutorials, clinical teachings, practical’s or demonstration of any kind.

“Supervisions of projects of any kind, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate levels for all courses domiciled in the College of Medicine.

“Participation in all other courses or examinations run by sister colleges, faculties or department in the University of Calabar.

“All meetings, committee work and all other activities as lecturers of the college of medicine in the university,” they stated.

According to them, all clinical services in UTCH are not affected by the ongoing action by MDCAN-UCTH.

Usang and Okpa informed the public that patient care and other clinical services in UCTH were not affected by their action, saying, “the services are going on smoothly.” (NAN)

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