By Innocent Emmanuel
Once upon a time, there was a great cerebral, cohesive and convivial assemblage of great minds united under one indivisible force, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). This united front had over the past decades represented the voice of the common man: parents, students, lecturers and the masses. It created stability ensuring that the decaying thoughts of those that had led this country at the highest rung to the lowest echelon of governance are kept in check, to guarantee the very barest level of sanity in our land that gave the poorest of the poor a glimpse of hope in this “auto-piloted” country that is gliding the downward slippery slope towards a failed state status. This Union did not only survive the jaws of military regimes and claws of our crazy democracy, but came out strong to put forth a resolute, resistant and reassuring position, that is unsullied and patriotic.
The once great ASUU seems to be at the moment at its’ lowest ebb owing to the fragmentation in its’ ranks. Today two break-away sons have emerged the, CONUA (Congress of Nigerian University Academics) and NAMDA (National Association of Nigerian Medical and Dental Academics). This is largely owing to the inactions of the Union and partly on the actions of the Union as regards the very important issues that pertains to the concerns of some of its members. It is said that the “Union makes us strong” but how can some be made weak by the same Union. “A house divided against itself will” definitely “not stand.” An indeed within a family, there is consequence for every act of favoritism and neglect of members especially when such deprived members have cried aloud but are consistently not just ignored but pushed hard against the wall. This will lead to agitation of separatism as is rampant in the constitutional entity Nigeria. It was agitation that led to the independence of countries from their colonial masters. It was unresolved difference that separated Northern Ireland from Ireland. Only recently, South Sudan separated from Sudan to become a country on its own.
The two main concerns of Medical Doctors, not with government but with fellow ASUU brothers, either sitting in decision making bodies as the University Senate or masquerading in government agencies like the NUC (Nigerian University Commission), is the repugnant attempt at the imposition of the PhD on clinical lecturers, a practice that is alien to international best practice either in America, Europe or Asia. Only recently, they seek to make it mandatory that to become a vice Chancellor of a University, despite being a professor of the all known difficult and prestigious Medicine and Dentistry, that you must possess a PhD. Secondly, that despite having the Medical/Dental degree and possessing the Medical Fellowship that is obtained after additional six years of Postgraduate Medical training and defense of a well-researched dissertation, that you must obtain a PhD in other to progress in your career within the University.
I will like the reader to sit tight while I make some startling explanations. Kindly pardon me as I would be “speaking the truth in love: telling it as it is.” For those who brandish the PhD for provocation to achieve their hidden hatred and jealousy for medical doctors, suffice it to note that the PhD doesn’t suddenly at old age make them more intelligent or academically savvy than medical doctors. Intelligence at large is a congenital attribute that one is born with and is manifested in childhood and may be developed with time. It is not a gift that falls from heaven after a “successful defense of a dissertation.” Medical doctors are those kids that at the nascent age are known to be highly intelligent and inordinately brilliant. It is from this class of exceptional kids that the Medical Doctors are extracted to become medical students. These kids have the best SSCE (Senior School certificate Examination) and the highest JAMB (Joint Admission and Matriculation Board) scores or other performance index that in the vast majority of cases meritoriously earn them admission into the limited space within medical schools of a university. In the University, unarguably, more than any other discipline, medical/dental students receive a package too heavy to bear: spend more time in class receiving lectures for theoretical knowledge; spend more time in laboratory, wards and theatre acquiring practical knowledge; spent more time after school hours at home or elsewhere reading and burning the candle to earn more knowledge; spend more time overall in the University spanning six strenuous not just numerical years. Also, during these unending six years in school, the total number of months as holiday for the Medical/Dental student is so negligible: approximately 2months only between the beginning of 200L to the end of 600L/graduation (5years). Note the there is no break/holiday from 400L to 600L (3years).
For the PhD, I note with respect the enormous stress and effort put in to acquire such a terminal qualification in the academia: a minimum of 3years; courses taken; seminar presentation and attendance; and successful defense of a dissertation. For the medical Fellowship, the requirement is mind bugling, a sharp contrast with the PhD: a minimum of 6years is required; more than 30 seminar presentation; more than 300 seminar attendance (at least 1 per week for 6years); more than 10,000 patients to medically attend to; courses and examination to pass with abysmally low pass rate; successful defense of a well-researched dissertation in a specific field of Medicine. Therefore, when compared, the medical fellowship is 3 to 10 times much more time consuming, resources consuming, mentally distressing, and academically and research intensive. The Medical fellowship has all the components of the PhD, but additional has constituent elements that makes it more intensive and engaging. Thus, in our Universities across Nigeria, the Medical Fellowship is rated higher than the PhD as holders of the former enter the academia with a 3 years Seniority to the later. There is therefore no basis for comparison by any standard used. Yet they baselessly compare the two and shamelessly, horribly and stinkingly seek to reinvent the wheel. This is not to denigrate the PhD but to state bare the facts that many may not state; many will not be happy to hear; and many do not know or pretend not to know.
The holders of fellowship are seasoned researchers in Nigerian Universities: they attract substantial grants and are the most cited academicians in the majority of Nigerian Universities where the Medical and Dental education is undertaking. For instance, in my University on Google scholar: the Most cited researcher is a Professor of Medicine; the top 11 cited researchers are all medical doctors with Medical Fellowship; amongst the top 20 most cited researchers, only 5 are not Medical Fellows; amongst the top 30 researchers, only 8 are not Medical Fellows; amongst the top 40 researchers, only 14 are not Medical Fellows. Additional medical lecturers have more comparatively numerical published work. This is the story all over the Universities in the country as medical lecturers continue to take the lead in the ever-interesting field of research in the academia. Remove, the Medical Fellows, the ranking of Nigerian Universities will come crashing at the speed of light, faster than a pack of cards. So, when they say that the PhD is more research based, what research those it has as an advantage? It is certainly not in number nor in quality? This assertion is just a malicious and envious ploy to frustrated the best amongst us, the Africa syndrome, Pull Him Down!
Astonishingly perplexed and dumbfounded I stand in consternation to ask as I think aloud, how can a crop of people dare a group of intellectuals in the academia with the best S.S.C.E.; the highest JAMB Score (or other university admission criteria); most extensive and tedious undergraduate program; much more tiresome, wearisome, intensive and engaging academic and professional postgraduate training; and much numerical and cited publications, not to be promoted or to aspire to the position of Vice Chancellor? The only explanation to this is deeply seated and longstanding malice and envy. The Nigeria Medical Doctor will assuredly fight to a standstill these few negatively predisposed individuals who are insecure by the mere presence of the Medical Doctor, talk more of their intimidating profile.
The Nigerian Medical Doctor will continue to stand out within and without the shores of this country either as a medical officer, or as specialist in any field of Medicine and Dentistry. Nigerian doctors continue to populate other countries like the UK, USA, Canada, and Saudi-Arabia, where they are so much needed to contribute their mental acumen towards the betterment of humanity. While still making the ground unbearable in Nigeria, an obnoxious bill was introduced to stop the mass exodus of the Nigerian doctors abroad. This bill only sought to treat the symptom not the disease, as it strives to infringe on the fundamental human right of Medical Doctors. This massive exodus will continue un till laws and policies are put in place by the government to outrightly stop the baseless discrimination against medical doctors by these envious malicious few who sustain missiles of provocation. The plight of the Medical/Dental lecturers continues with the massive pay cut occasioned by the choice to be primarily lecturers. This must also be addressed forthwith.
The singleton problem with NAMDA is the secretive and clandestine method of its formation. This is because the pioneers failed to sensitize, mobilize and obtain the acceptance of its proposed members (medical doctors) before consummation of its plans, but seems to surreptitiously hijack an ongoing discussion. As NAMDA grapples with perhaps a short-lived legitimacy amongst Medical Doctors, it remains at present the only voice that boldly and genuinely represent the yearnings and aspirations of the Medical Doctor in the academia.
ASUU has chosen to be bystanders, onlookers and passive passengers on the plight of the medical academicians who had faithfully supported its course since inception. In many cases, they are active antagonist to the medical academics. If ASUU chooses to continue condoning the oppression, suppression and repression of one of the brightest groups amongst its fold, it should be ready to face the impending tsunami that will not only dismember it but dissolve it to the minutest molecule. If ASUU does not sit up to its internal responsibilities, the formation of CONUA and NAMDA has only signaled the beginning of the end of this once great Union. “A stitch in time” they say, “saves nine.”
Solidarity forever.
Dr. Innocent Emmanuel, MBBS, MPA, FMCPath, FWACP.
Department of Pathology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
