Medical lecturers at the University of Uyo, operating under the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) branch, have started an indefinite strike in protest against the selection process for the next Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
In a message made available to journalists on Sunday, the association confirmed that the strike action began at midnight on Thursday, June 26, 2025. This followed a series of meetings held from Friday, June 20 to Wednesday, June 25, during which the members agreed to withdraw their services completely.
“Please kindly note that in line with the resolutions of our extraordinary general meeting held between Friday 20th and Wednesday 25th of June 2025, an indefinite strike has been declared by MDCAN UUTH beginning from midnight of Thursday 26th of June 2025,” the statement read.
According to the group, the strike affects all clinical teaching activities in the university. This includes classroom lectures, clinical teaching rounds, seminars, student practicals, research supervision, examinations, and other academic duties carried out by medical consultants.
The association noted that their decision was based on the way the university management handled the process for selecting the new Vice-Chancellor. They alleged that clinical lecturers were unfairly excluded from participating in the process because of the criteria listed in the job advert.
Currently, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Nyaudo Ndaeyo, is nearing the end of his tenure, which is expected to conclude in December 2025.
In a letter dated June 25 and addressed to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), the medical lecturers expressed deep dissatisfaction with the council’s response to their concerns. They said their initial calls for fairness were dismissed.
“If anybody feels it is ambiguous, let him go back to school. It is clear enough for our purpose and whoever is desirous should go and apply,” the pro-chancellor reportedly said in response to their petition.
The letter titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Service” was co-signed by Dr. Ibiok Usendiah, Chairman of MDCAN UUTH, and Dr. Solomon Bassey, the Secretary. Copies of the letter were also sent to top government officials, including the Ministers of Education and Health, as well as other relevant authorities.
In the letter, the association noted that they had tried to resolve the matter through other peaceful means, but their efforts were met with disrespect. They said they had only asked the Pro-Chancellor to fix what they described as a faulty addendum to the Vice-Chancellor vacancy announcement.
The association stated, “We were, however, rather shocked to receive your reply to what was a civil plea from our association for you to do the right thing.”
They added that the tone of the reply was insulting, saying it was unacceptable for highly trained professionals to be referred to in such a manner.
“We are understandably mortified at the presumption that we, an association of medical doctors in academics and at the highest level of our professional practice, could be labelled as unschooled.
“We believe that this is rather unbecoming of a highly-placed individual like yourself being a practising lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria! This is a highly demeaning and unwarranted insult.”
The group stated that for the strike to end, they expect the Pro-Chancellor to take specific steps. These include a public correction acknowledging that a Postgraduate Medical Fellowship is an acceptable alternative to a PhD for professors in clinical fields, to be printed in at least two national newspapers. They also demanded that this be officially recorded in the minutes of the University’s Governing Council.
In addition, they want a formal, written apology from Dr. Banire, fully admitting and apologizing for what they called an “insult” in his earlier response to their request.
