FG Halts Migration Of Consultant Doctors To New Salary Structure

The National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission, has
temporarily suspended the migration of members of Medical and
Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MEDCAN) from the
Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to the Consolidated
University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS).

The decision to suspend the migration of the consultant doctors
followed the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Employment,
Sen. Chris Ngige, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the
NSIWC, Ekpo Nta.

The NSIWC had on Friday, August 13, 2021 through a letter, asked
office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to halt further
action on an earlier circular directing the movement of the doctors
to CONUASS following the intervention of Sen Ngige.

A copy of the letter which was signed by the chairman of NSIWC,
Nta and obtained by our reporter reads: “The Commission is in
receipt of a request by the Honorable Minister of Labour and
Employment who is currently conciliating the threat to withdraw
services by MDCAN and the interim order of the National Industrial
Court of Nigeria in suit No. NICN/ABJ/145/2021 – Dr. Christopher
Lucky Akpa and others Vs. National Salaries Income and Wages
Commission and others, for a stay of action in respect of our
letter of April 22, 2021 for those already enrolled, pending the
outcome of both conciliatory meeting and the matter in court.”

MEDCAN is a group of senior doctors who are medical Consultants
that teach and guide resident doctors in their professional
operation towards becoming specialists and consultants in their
area of specialisation. The association had on July 26, 2021 issued
a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to correct the
unwarranted removal of consultants from CONMESS to CONUASS salary
scale by their employing universities who had earlier placed them
on CONMESS upon appointment about 10 years ago.

It was further gathered that the doctors approached the National
Industrial Court and secured an injunction against the NSIWC and
the Accountant – General of the Federation. Both government
agencies refused to implement the ruling of the court, labour
sources said.

However, it was gathered that Ngige who is also a doctor, waded
into the matter on August 6, 2021 knowing full well that these
consultants are the only ones now offering services in the various
hospitals and medical centres, following the indefinite strike
embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors of
Nigeria (NARD).

Ngige also wrote to the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National
Planning not to effect the content of the NSIWC letter pending the
conciliation and conclusion of the matter in court. According to
another source, MEDCAN has also been duly informed by both the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment about the new directive
suspending the migration of their members to CONUASS.

The association is expected to meet on Sunday (today) to decide
whether to withdraw services on Monday August 16 as stated in their
ultimatum to the Federal Government.

The National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission, has
temporarily suspended the migration of members of Medical and
Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MEDCAN) from the
Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to the Consolidated
University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS).

The decision to suspend the migration of the consultant doctors
followed the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Employment,
Sen. Chris Ngige, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the
NSIWC, Ekpo Nta.

The NSIWC had on Friday, August 13, 2021 through a letter, asked
office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to halt further
action on an earlier circular directing the movement of the doctors
to CONUASS following the intervention of Sen Ngige.

A copy of the letter which was signed by the chairman of NSIWC,
Nta and obtained by our reporter reads: “The Commission is in
receipt of a request by the Honorable Minister of Labour and
Employment who is currently conciliating the threat to withdraw
services by MDCAN and the interim order of the National Industrial
Court of Nigeria in suit No. NICN/ABJ/145/2021 – Dr. Christopher
Lucky Akpa and others Vs. National Salaries Income and Wages
Commission and others, for a stay of action in respect of our
letter of April 22, 2021 for those already enrolled, pending the
outcome of both conciliatory meeting and the matter in court.”

MEDCAN is a group of senior doctors who are medical Consultants
that teach and guide resident doctors in their professional
operation towards becoming specialists and consultants in their
area of specialisation. The association had on July 26, 2021 issued
a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to correct the
unwarranted removal of consultants from CONMESS to CONUASS salary
scale by their employing universities who had earlier placed them
on CONMESS upon appointment about 10 years ago.

It was further gathered that the doctors approached the National
Industrial Court and secured an injunction against the NSIWC and
the Accountant – General of the Federation. Both government
agencies refused to implement the ruling of the court, labour
sources said.

However, it was gathered that Ngige who is also a doctor, waded
into the matter on August 6, 2021 knowing full well that these
consultants are the only ones now offering services in the various
hospitals and medical centres, following the indefinite strike
embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors of
Nigeria (NARD).

Ngige also wrote to the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National
Planning not to effect the content of the NSIWC letter pending the
conciliation and conclusion of the matter in court. According to
another source, MEDCAN has also been duly informed by both the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment about the new directive
suspending the migration of their members to CONUASS.

The association is expected to meet on Sunday (today) to decide
whether to withdraw services on Monday August 16 as stated in their
ultimatum to the Federal Government.