Professor Muhammad Bala Audu, President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has called for standardised remuneration for doctors working in hospitals and those in academia.
Prof. Audu spoke at the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria.
He highlighted the disparity between doctors in hospitals, who are paid under the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS), and their academic counterparts, who receive salaries through the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS).
In his address on “Contemporary Issues in Medical Education: The Role of Career Guidance and Mentorship,” Prof. Audu, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, Bauchi State, lamented the challenges facing doctors in academia.
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He noted that the doubling of student intake without adequate infrastructure and equipment compromises service delivery and training quality.
Prof. Audu also pointed out the exclusion of medical professionals from becoming vice-chancellors, urging the federal government to address workplace standardization, security and the welfare of medical professionals to enhance productivity.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Kabir Bala, Prof. Muhammad Shehu praised NAMDA for aligning with the university’s policies and President Bola Tinubu’s Hope Agenda.
He called on the association to maintain professionalism and peace in pursuing their objectives.
At the event, Prof. Bello Jamo, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, was honoured with a meritorious award for excellent service.