The federal capital territory administration (FCTA) chapter of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN),has issued a three-day warning strike notice over its displeasure on retirement letters issued to untenured doctors on grade level 17.
The medical consultants, in a letter addressed to Nyesom Wike, minister of the FCT, and signed by Emmanuel Musa, MDCAN chairman and Uko Ekaette, its secretary-general, said the strike will begin at midnight on Wednesday.
The consultants said they decided on the strike at an emergency congress meeting after efforts to reach an amicable resolution with the FCTA establishment and the permanent secretary failed.
The letter stated, “Permit us sir to request for your prompt intervention in the misinterpretation and misapplication of circular on revised Public Services Rules (PSR) (2021 Section: 020909), policy tenure).
“It is directly applicable only to tenured office holders to unjustifiably retire our members who hold untenured position of medical consultants on GL17.
“Contrary to the circular emanating from the office of the Head of Service on the same matter, the circular Ref no: FCTA/HRM/S141145/vol 1 of Aug. 9, 2023 endorsed by the permanent secretary, FCTA has attempted to include medical consultants on GL17 to tenured positions.
“We would like to state categorically herein that medical consultant position on GL 17 has never been regarded as a tenured position.
“In support of this, there was a precedence of an exception of Medical Consultants in clinical service.”
According to the medical consultants, the FCTA was the only administration/ministry that has misinterpreted, misapplied and implemented the circular in Nigeria.
The consultants,therefore, called for an immediate withdrawal of the compulsory retirement letters to its members, warning that the entire health care system will collapse if the compulsory retirement notice is allowed to sail through.
