The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has reassured members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) who are also staff of the Institution that their demands for placement on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure are being actively addressed.

Prof. Egbewole gave this assurance last Tuesday (February 25, 2025) when he received an NMA team that visited him in his office. He affirmed that medical professionals at the University would be placed under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) once the 2025 budget is approved as proposed.

He expressed optimism that this budgetary provision would resolve existing challenges regarding the welfare of medical lecturers.

The Vice Chancellor acknowledged the Minister of Education’s insistence that discussions on CONMESS and other related matters should be included in the broader negotiations between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.

The Vice Chancellor also noted that the Minister is committed to reviewing the remuneration of medical lecturers nationwide, even if a different structure from CONMESS is introduced to address their peculiar needs.

Prof. Egbewole also highlighted the unique position of medical professionals in balancing academic work with clinical practice, saying, unlike other government employees who are restricted from engaging in secondary employment except in farming, medical lecturers must remain actively involved in the profession to ensure effective teaching and training of students.

He explained that medical knowledge evolves rapidly and that hands-on experience in both public and private healthcare settings is essential for maintaining high-quality education.

While expressing confidence in the ongoing efforts of the Minister of Education, Prof. Egbewole stated that the government is now paying greater attention to the concerns of medical lecturers.

He, however, encouraged medical unions such as NMA, NAMDA, and ARD to use their collective strength to push for national recognition of their demands, saying, “As a Vice Chancellor, my role is to lobby and plead, but these unions have the muscle to demand for this cause”.

Prof. Egbewole assured the NMA that his Administration remains committed to improving the University of Ilorin’s Medical School and ensuring that it receives the necessary support to function effectively. He reaffirmed that the Institution would continue to prioritise the welfare of its medical professionals in line with national and global best practices.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of NMA, Kwara State Chapter, Dr. Afolabi Ola Ahmed, expressed appreciation to the Vice Chancellor for creating an enabling environment for NMA members in the University to excel in both academic and research activities within and outside the University.

The NMA Chairman acknowledged the Vice Chancellor’s support for the College’s medical training programmes, particularly during accreditation exercises, and commended him for appointing a Medical Elder as Deputy Vice Chancellor of the institution.

Dr. Afolabi also praised the renovation and expansion of the sick bay at the College, which he said would reduce the need for sick students to travel to the main campus, especially at night. He said, “We came on board about eight months ago, and ever since then, we have been monitoring events and activities, especially those concerning the welfare of our members. We have participated in many university activities, and we deeply appreciate your commitment to improving the welfare of our members, particularly your interest in reviewing their salary structure”.

The NMA Chairman expressed optimism that lecturers at the College of Health Sciences would soon enjoy the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), in line with the standard adopted by most institutions across Nigeria.

Dr. Afolabi acknowledged the Vice Chancellor’s efforts in making CONMESS payment effective for medical lecturers and called for an improvement in manpower to ease the workload on the existing lecturers.

He reiterated the NMA’s full support for Prof. Egbewole’s Vision 1:10:100 to position the University as the best in Nigeria and assured him of NMA’s continued collaboration in achieving that goal.

The Vice Chancellor was joined to receive the NMA team by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Muhtar Adeiza Etudaiye; the Registrar of the University, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; the Bursar, represented by Mr Abdulrasheed Atanda Ahmed, and the University Librarian, Prof. Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa.

Other members of the NMA team on the visit were the Secretary of Kwara NMA, Dr Ijaiya M. A.; the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Sulyman Abiodun Alabi; the Director of University Health Services, Dr Rasheed Odunola; the Chairman MEDSABAMS, Prof. Gabriel Olaiya Omotoso; the Chairman NAMDA, Prof. Muhammed Abdulkadir; and the President of ARD, Dr Shiru Marian.

Others were Prof. Olugbenga Mokuolu of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Prof. Abdulfatai Olokoba of the Department of Medicine.