The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has accused the university management of deceit in handling the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). The group rejected a proposed phased rollout, insisting on immediate full implementation with arrears from January 2025. NAMDA urged the Oyo State government and the university's Governing Council to intervene to safeguard medical education.
The dispute at LAUTECH centers on the implementation of CONMESS for medical lecturers. NAMDA's LAUTECH branch issued a statement accusing the management of betrayal and public deception. This follows an announcement by Registrar Mrs. Olayinka Balogun outlining a phased approach: partial payments starting in November 2025 and full implementation by July 2026, with arrears to be considered later. Management described this as a genuine effort to enhance staff welfare and expressed disappointment over NAMDA's rejection, which they linked to recent student protests fearing disruptions to academic and clinical training.
In a rejoinder signed by Acting Chairman Prof. Adeyemi Olamoyegun and Acting Secretary Dr. Ayobami Alabi, NAMDA dismissed the management's statement as lacking any binding resolution, Council approval, or financial directive. "Phrases such as ‘scheduled to begin’ and ‘pledged to consider’ carry no legal weight," the association stated. They accused Vice-Chancellor Prof. Razaq Kalilu of bad faith, noting he had requested time to consult the Governing Council only for management to issue a statement suggesting an agreement the next day.
The agitation began over a year ago, after other Nigerian medical schools adopted CONMESS. In January 2025, the Vice-Chancellor assured immediate implementation, leading NAMDA to suspend a one-week strike. However, eleven months later, no changes have occurred, leaving LAUTECH's medical academics as the only ones in Nigeria under the old salary structure. NAMDA highlighted the Oyo State government's earlier adoption of CONMESS alongside an N80,000 minimum wage adjustment, calling the delay discriminatory and illegal.
The association rejected linking student protests to its stance, attributing unrest to management's failure to honor commitments. "Students are protesting because management failed to fulfil lawful obligations to their teachers," NAMDA said. They demand immediate full implementation using the Oyo State template, with arrears from January 2025, and called for intervention by the Governing Council and Oyo State Government to preserve medical education integrity.