By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
Medical training at the College of Health Sciences, Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), and Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) has been disrupted as medical lecturers commenced an indefinite strike over unpaid salary and promotion arrears.
The lecturers, under the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), said they embarked on the comprehensive strike on August 10, 2026, after the expiration of ultimatums issued to the university and relevant authorities.
In a statement signed by Dr Innocent Abi, Chairman, NAMDA MOAUM/BSUTH, and Dr Paul Beega, Chairman, ASMeDA, College of Health Sciences, MOAUM, the lecturers said their demands included the full implementation of the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
The industrial action, according to the lecturers, would affect teaching, assessments and examinations for medical and allied health students, as well as the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
They would also refrain from attending official and statutory meetings and participating in other academic activities connected with medical training until their grievances are addressed.
Others are payment of 25 months’ accrued CONMESS arrears, outstanding promotion arrears, remittance of pension deductions to the appropriate Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), and stoppage of CONMESS-specific allowances being paid to non-medically qualified lecturers on the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS).
The lecturers urged the management of the College of Health Sciences, the university and the Benue State Government to urgently intervene and resolve the issues, warning that failure to do so could prolong the disruption of medical training and services at the teaching hospital.
