MDCAN kicks against NUC’s circular on possession of PhD by members
By Segun Giwa
Circular
Akure, March 2, 2020 (NAN) The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has described as ‘obnoxious’ the circular by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the use of PhD qualification for consultants for career progression.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NUC had, on Dec. 24, 2019, issued a circular that vice chancellors must recognise possession of PhD as a prerequisite for career progression by all academic staff, including clinical lecturers.
The Vice Chairman of MDCAN in Ondo State, Mrs Omolayo Olubosede, at a press conference on Monday in Akure, said that the association rejected the circular in its entirety.
Olubosede said that NUC had no right to and should desist from meddling in the affairs of post-graduate medical training, which was in the purview of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
She said that a medical consultant needed not to have PhD because he/she had spent more years than what a PhD holder would have spent.
“We demand that NUC should desist forthwith from meddling in the postgraduate medical training, which is in the purview of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
Olubosede reiterated that MDCAN rejected the imposition of PhD on clinical lecturers.
“The Executive Secretary, NUC, has mentioned that possession of PhD is voluntary and optional and not making it mandatory for career progression for clinical lecturers.
“The NUC is trying to meddle in the postgraduate medical training in Nigeria, thereby usurping the powers of the National Postgraduate Medical College.
“MDCAN is not averse to the possession of PhD but should remain voluntary and optional for clinical lecturers.
“The NUC circular, if allowed to stand, will worsen the already precarious health situation in the country by encouraging continuous brain drain of our best from the University system,” she Said.
Olubosede called on the NPMCN to live up to its statutory powers of awarding degrees to postgraduate trainees.
She said that the national body of MDCAN had given NUC till Feb. 24 to withdraw the circular, which it failed to do, adding that members, who were clinical lecturers in the universities, had already withdrawn their services.
The MDCAN vice chairman said that the association in the state had already complied, as its members, who were clinical lecturers at the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) had since withdrawn their services. (NAN)
GSD/AMM/WAS
Edited by Abiemwense Moru and ‘Wale Sadeeq