The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria has extended its earlier deadline to the Federal Government to resolve all outstanding issues by six weeks.

The association announced this in a communiqué issued following the conclusion of its National Executive Council meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Sunday.

The communiqué read during a news conference was signed by its President, Prof. Mohammad Mohammad, and Secretary-General, Dr. Daiyabu Ibrahim.

Recall that the organization issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government in 2023 that was set to expire on January 31, 2024, and the decision to go on strike was to be made at the Uyo National Executive Council meeting.

To give the government time to consider, the association chose to extend the deadline by an additional six weeks.

After the six-week grace period expired, the group declared that it would no longer guarantee industrial peace if its demands were not honored.

The NEC expressed dismay that not much has been accomplished despite its repeated interactions with pertinent government entities regarding the association's demands.

It also noted that, among other things, the issue of hospital consultants' retirement age being raised (harmonized) and the shortfall in salaries and income loss experienced by honorary consultants (clinical lecturers) as a result of the government's failure to apply CONMESS to all medical and dental officers in the public service have not yet been fully addressed.

The communique read in part, “NEC resolved to extend the ultimatum earlier given to the government by six weeks (up to March 10, 2024) to address all pending issues between the government and the association. MDCAN cannot guarantee industrial harmony after the expiration of the above ultimatum if its demands are not met.”