The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has ordered the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State, to withdraw its recent advertisement for the Vice-Chancellor position and publish a revised version that is inclusive of all qualified candidates.
This directive comes in response to mounting pressure from clinical lecturers under the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), who threatened industrial action over what they termed discriminatory criteria in the recruitment process.
The controversy centers around the university’s advert, which MDCAN claims excludes medical professionals with fellowships—despite their qualifications—from vying for the top position.
In a memo dated June 13, 2025, MDCAN warned the university’s Governing Council that failure to revise the advert would trigger a strike. The group subsequently issued a two-week ultimatum expiring on July 1, 2025, demanding amendments to ensure fairness and inclusivity.
Speaking on Monday, MDCAN’s National President, Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, confirmed the minister’s intervention.
“We had a conference call on Sunday with the Minister of Education and the UNIUYO Pro-Chancellor. The Minister clearly instructed that the current advert be withdrawn and replaced with one that recognizes both PhD and Fellowship qualifications,” Muhammad stated.
He added that talks are ongoing between the university management and MDCAN leadership to resolve the issue and avoid disruption to academic activities.
