Crack in ASUU, as Medical Lecturers Distance Selves From Strike

Fresh tension has emerged within the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following reports that medical lecturers under the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) are distancing themselves from the ongoing industrial action, a move that has exposed growing divisions within the academic community.

What Is Happening?

Medical lecturers in several Nigerian universities have indicated their unwillingness to fully participate in the ASUU-led strike, citing concerns over:

• Disruption of medical training, especially for clinical students
• Patient care and hospital services in teaching hospitals
• The unique nature of medical education, which requires continuous hands-on clinical exposure

MDCAN has repeatedly argued that prolonged strikes are counterproductive to healthcare delivery and medical manpower development, insisting that clinical training cannot be treated the same way as other academic programmes.

Why Medical Lecturers Are Pulling Away

According to MDCAN leaders, the association:

• Is not affiliated to ASUU, even though many of its members are university lecturers
• Prioritises patient safety and uninterrupted clinical services
• Believes medical and dental training should be exempted or differently handled during prolonged industrial actions

They warn that repeated strikes could lead to:

• Poorly trained doctors
• Extended years of study for medical students
• Increased brain drain in the health sector

ASUU’s Reaction

ASUU has acknowledged the disagreement but insists that:

• The strike is in the best interest of public universities
• Funding, earned allowances, and conditions of service affect all lecturers, including those in medical faculties
• Fragmentation weakens the collective bargaining power of academic unions

Some ASUU leaders have described MDCAN’s stance as undermining collective struggle, while others admit it reflects deep-rooted structural problems in Nigeria’s university system.

Implications for Students and Teaching Hospitals

The split has created uneven academic activities across campuses:

• Some medical schools have continued clinical postings and examinations
• Non-medical faculties remain largely shut due to the strike
• Teaching hospitals linked to universities are operating at varying capacities

Students, especially those in medical and health sciences, are caught in the middle—uncertain about academic calendars and graduation timelines.

A Sign of Deeper Structural Issues

Education analysts say the rift highlights the need for:

• Separate negotiation frameworks for medical lecturers
• Clear policies distinguishing clinical duties from academic union actions
• Long-term solutions to prevent recurring strikes in critical sectors like health and education

Without a coordinated approach, experts warn that such divisions could become more frequent, weakening union actions and further destabilising Nigeria’s higher education system.

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FAQs

1. Is MDCAN part of ASUU?
No. MDCAN is a separate professional association representing medical and dental consultants, including those who teach in universities.

2. Are medical students affected by ASUU strikes?
Yes, but often differently. While some clinical activities may continue, academic components can still be disrupted.

3. Why does MDCAN oppose prolonged strikes?
Because medical training and patient care require continuity, and long disruptions can endanger both education quality and lives.

4. Can ASUU sanction medical lecturers who refuse to join the strike?
ASUU has no direct authority over MDCAN members, though institutional pressures may exist at some universities.

5. What does this mean for future ASUU strikes?
It suggests potential fragmentation within the academic workforce, which may force the government and unions to adopt more sector-specific negotiation models.