The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical School, encompassing the faculties of Medicine and Basic Clinical Sciences at the Nnewi Campus, has been inactive for 12 consecutive days as clinical lecturers in the school have withdrawn their services.
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.
He stated that an . 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.
“The congress observed that the . 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 adverts of the past for the position,” he said.
Oriji stated that the clinical lecturers had written to the Ag. Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, Awka, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umeobi, protested the . for the position of Vice Chancellor, adding that there was no response from the acting VC.
He noted that they have gone on strike after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the VC to protest the development.
“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.
“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,” he said.
Oriji said that the association will continue the strike until the management does the right thing and includes clinical lecturers in the VC race.