After nearly two months of suspended academic activities due to an industrial action by medical consultants at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), clinical students are set to resume their academic activities. The strike, which began on February 3rd, was led by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) to protest the university’s refusal to implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for clinical lecturers.
The President of the Ife University Medical Students’ Association (IFUMSA), Ayobami Miracle, confirmed the resumption in a release obtained by ACJOAU, urging students to prepare to resume. “Following recent developments, academic activities will officially resume on Monday, April 7th, and I encourage everyone to start making arrangements to return to Ife,” the release stated.
Background of the Strike
The strike followed a directive from MDCAN’s Southwest Zone on January 30th, 2025. MDCAN had previously issued a 21-day ultimatum on January 13th, which expired on February 2nd. As such, clinical lecturers in the three federal universities in the zone, including OAU, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and University of Ibadan (UI) were instructed to embark on an indefinite strike in protest of the refusal by some federal universities to adopt CONMESS, a salary structure designated for medical practitioners.
The University of Ibadan zone commenced its strike on December 13th, 2024, while UNILAG and OAU joined on February 3rd. Other institutions that have also joined the strike action include the University of Ilorin on October 30th, 2024, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) on February 12th. The strike halted all clinical activities at the College of Health Sciences in these institutions, including OAU, leaving students stranded.
READ ALSO: 4 Months After Convocation, OAU Graduates Yet to Secure Transcripts
Salary Dispute at the Core of the Crisis
At the heart of the dispute was the salary structure for clinical lecturers. At the same time, hospital-employed consultants receive CONMESS salaries, and university-employed clinical lecturers are placed on the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS), which offers significantly lower pay.
“The issue is simple: salaries. Clinical lecturers at OAU ask for the CONMESS salary structure that doctors earn. The university insists on using CONUASS, which is what lecturers earn. The problem is that these lecturers are doctors and lecturers, so there’s a disagreement on which structure should apply,” IFUMSA President Miracle explained in an interview with ACJOAU.
A report by UIMSA Press highlighted the disparity: hospital-employed consultants earn between ₦800,000 and ₦900,000 monthly, while their university-employed counterparts earn only about ₦300,000 to ₦400,000, with a minor clinical supplementation.
Why the Stalemate?
OAU’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, had defended the institution’s stance earlier, stating that the Vice-Chancellor prioritizes staff welfare and that the university was not intentionally denying lecturers their entitlements.
Despite these assurances, negotiations stalled. By February 26th, MDCAN and the Medical and Dental Specialist Association in Basic Medical Sciences (MEDSABAMS) expressed frustration over the lack of progress, stating that “no significant progress” had been made. A meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on March 16th with Vice-Chancellors of the affected medical schools also failed to yield any immediate results.
Miracle shed light on the university’s reluctance: “The reluctance largely stems from bureaucratic bottlenecks and the university’s stance that no legal document binds them to adopt a different salary structure for doctors who are also lecturers. Institutions that have implemented CONMESS for their medical lecturers did so without legal backing and are technically acting outside official regulations.”
READ ALSO: Beyond Beauty: The Price Students Pay to Maintain Healthy Skin
He further explained that the issue extends beyond OAU, as the salary structures fall under different federal ministries—CONMESS under the Federal Ministry of Health and CONUASS under the Federal Ministry of Education. This administrative division has complicated efforts to resolve the dispute.
Students Bear the Brunt
The prolonged strike has left students frustrated. Arije Mayowa, the 500-level class representative, described the experience as exhausting.
“The ongoing strike has pushed my classmates and me to the brink. We gained admission in 2018 and should have graduated last year, but strikes have derailed our academic journey. This latest strike only adds to our despair. We’re eager to complete our studies and move forward, but instead, we’re stuck at home, feeling helpless and demotivated,” he said.
IFUMSA President Olajuyigbe commented on the impact: “Academic activities are completely on hold. Posting schedules are disrupted, exams have been postponed indefinitely, and final-year students are stuck in limbo. Mentally, it’s draining. Medical school is stressful enough, and now we must deal with this uncertainty on top of everything else.
READ ALSO: Talented OAU Artists You Should Listen To (II)
Strike Called Off: Students’ Reaction
Meanwhile, as academic activities are set to resume, students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have expressed a range of reactions, reflecting both relief and apprehension. While some clinical students are excited to return to academic work, others say the break offered them valuable time to engage in personal growth and alternative pursuits.
Ayomide Gbenga, a Part 5 medical student, speaking with ACJOAU, welcomed the suspension of the strike with optimism. “The strike action affected me positively because I was able to learn different things, like forex and other stuff,” he said. Despite being pleased to resume academic activities, he acknowledged that the industrial action had delayed the class’s academic progress. “We’re just about to start the three-week lectures we ought to have completed by now.”
READ ALSO: JCIOAU Holds NextGen 2025 to Empower Future Leaders on the Role of Technology
For Olusola Fasola, a 600-level student, the resumption of clinical postings elicited mixed feelings. “My reaction is slightly negative. I was enjoying the strike because it gave me time to explore a few things outside academics,” he said. He noted that the pause allowed him to escape the intensity of medical school temporarily. “While I initially felt indifferent about the timing of the strike being called off, I’ve come to accept it, and I’m hopeful about returning to academic work.”
Speaking with another student, Egbewale Fiyin, a 500-level student, expressed both frustration and appreciation regarding the strike. “It has delayed our academic progress. By now, we should be well into Part 5, but we are just about to begin,” he said. However, he acknowledged that the break had been a time for personal reflection and self-improvement. “Although the return to school means less time for personal development, I’m glad academic activities will now continue.”
Similarly, Damilare, another clinical student, shared a balanced view of the situation. “The strike helped me rest, sleep well, and focus on myself,” he said. While he admitted that the pause had delayed his graduation timeline, he was ultimately happy to return to school. ‘It’s time to move forward with our academic calendar. I look forward to graduating as soon as possible,’ he added.’
READ ALSO: ACJOAU Announces Third Edition of Adejumo Kabir’s Essay Competition
Students Resume Academic Activities, MDCAN Gives Ultimatum
However, while students gear up to return on April 7th, the South-West MDCAN Chairman, Dr AbdulKareem Salawu, speaking on behalf of the association, has insisted in an interview that while some universities have resumed, the association might continue the strike if payment issues are not completely resolved by April.
“Some universities have promised to start paying lecturers, but progress has been slow. There are hopes that the issue will be resolved by the end of April, although the South-West region is facing a significant challenge compared to other zones. If there’s no payment by the end of April, the strike continues,” he said