The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Oyo State has officially suspended its four-month-long industrial action. This decision comes after an emergency congress meeting, but the underlying issues remain unresolved.

The announcement was eagerly shared in a press statement from the Interim Chairman, Prof. Michael Olamoyegun, and Interim Secretary, Dr. Ayobami Alabi. Academic activities resumed on Tuesday, but many wonder if this marks a true return to normalcy or just a pause in the ongoing struggle for fair compensation.

The strike, which began on July 31, was ignited by the university's failure to implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS),a plan meant to ensure just pay for medical lecturers. NAMDA claims that suspending the strike is merely a strategy to open dialogue with the university management, hoping to finally secure the full CONMESS benefits,including long-overdue allowances and arrears.

Despite reassurances, it’s crucial to note that only the basic salary of CONMESS has been paid so far, leaving additional allowances, which should have been addressed since January, still hanging in limbo. The association found the proposed timeline for future payments,pushed back to July 2026,to be utterly unacceptable, yet it seems they are now willing to play the waiting game.

“Following an exhaustive deliberation at our Emergency Congress, we’ve reviewed the progress on our demands,” read the statement. But is this really progress? With critical components of CONMESS still unfulfilled, the situation appears stagnant.

The congress has resolved to suspend the strike, but not without establishing a framework for future progress reviews on the implementation of CONMESS. The group reiterates their commitment to securing fair compensation, but one has to wonder how much faith can be placed in these promises.

NAMDA’s future actions will reportedly hinge on the university management’s responsiveness, leaving many to question if real change is on the horizon or if we are simply witnessing a performance intended to pacify public concern. “This resolution is taken in good faith,” they state, appealing to public sentiment rather than ensuring immediate solutions.

The association is also keen on preventing further disruptions to the medical program, but how long will stakeholders tolerate the ongoing delays? They’ve acknowledged the efforts of the Governing Council and the Honourable Commissioner for Education, but these efforts have not yet translated into concrete results.