The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has disclosed that Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Pate will soon submit a memo to the Federal Executive Council. The memo seeks to harmonize the retirement age for medical consultants, extending it to 70 years.
In a related move, Prof. Pate and Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa plan to submit a joint memo to the Presidential Committee on Salaries. This proposal advocates for the universal application of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to medical lecturers, ensuring fair compensation across the board.
MDCAN recently staged a seven-day warning strike starting November 18. The strike was suspended after six days following government intervention and the resolution of a key issue at Nnamdi Azikiwe University concerning the Vice-Chancellor position.
MDCAN President Prof. Muhammad Muhammad confirmed the progress on the memos. “We have reviewed the draft and added our input. The ministers are now preparing to present it to the Federal Executive Council for consideration,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of the salary harmonization memo. “Both ministers will jointly submit this to the Presidential Committee on Salaries. We urge the government to honor its commitments before our next meeting in January 2025,” he added.
The association continues to push for the retirement age extension and the full implementation of CONMESS for all medical and dental professionals. MDCAN argues these changes will improve service delivery and help retain experienced doctors in Nigeria.
MDCAN has scheduled its next meeting for January 20–25, 2025. At that time, members will assess the government’s progress and decide on further actions.
This development reflects the urgent need for reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare and academic sectors. The focus now shifts to the Federal Executive Council and Presidential Committee on Salaries to address these critical demands.