The leadership of Physiotherapy Corpers Association of Nigeria, PCAN has frowned at what it termed the continued denial of the 2014 graduands of Department of Medical Rehabilitation, University of Nigeria their practice right in their chosen profession by the Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board of Nigeria.

 

In a statement issued at its secretariat in Akure and jointly signed by the Acting National Chairman of PCAN, Physio Comr. Uduonu E Uduonu and the National publicity secretary, Physio Comr. Ikah Gerald, the association noted that the situation which started as a mere administrative squabble has degenerated to the point where the affected graduands are now at the point of giving up on the Profession they cherished so much going by the zeal and seriousness the affected graduates were known for while in school.

 

While PCAN believes in round-table discussions as the surest path to peaceful resolution of crisis, we cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our young smart Physiotherapists wallow in agony of no fault of theirs, its a known fact that neither the students' consent nor their approval is sought in the appointment of the head of any department in Nigerian Public universities, one then wonders why the students should be used as scape goat by the MRTB in this "conflict of ego" and inter professional war.

 

The PCAN believes firmly in the principle of equitable justice and fairness in line with the canon laws, where an offender is meant to face the full wrath of any offence so committed and for a fact, we know that the affected students never in any way contributed to the remote cause of this crisis, it then amounts to unfair and unjust treatment denying them their right to be inducted into the Physiotherapy Profession

 

PCAN's stand:

1. That both the MRTB and leadership of Medical Rehabilitation Department of University of Nigeria, should as a matter of urgency meet to finalize this logjam in the soonest time possible

 

2. That in a case where peaceful resolution becomes elusive, the affected graduands should be granted waivers and inducted, as its obvious they are not the cause of this problem.

 

3. The leadership of NSP under our amiable President, Comr. Taiwo Oyewunmi should lead other strong voices in the Physiotherapy Profession to broker peace between MRTB and University of Nigeria

 

4. That all the alumni graduates of Med Rehab dept, University of Nigeria should observe Friday, 17th of July as a day of prayers and fasting for the induction of our young graduands

 

PCAN's effort so far:

PCAN, though not a labour union but a professional association has in the recent past made some enviable pragmatic moves in resolving the crisis, the leadership of PCAN had spoken with some of the actors in the quagmire where promises were made to ending the crisis and seeing the graduands inducted soon. PCAN has tried unsuccessfully to get the ears of the management of the University of Nigeria, but the discussion to that is still on going.

 

The success of any profession depends so much on how it treats her young ones, if this quagmire isn't nipped in the bud, our much cherished Profession risks a total decline in respect and grading especially in the affected zone of the country, we shouldn't  forget that these graduands have parents and guardians who trained them in school and as such will be concerned and sober with the recent events, it is then a task, a national task for all the stake holders in the Physiotherapy Profession to rise up and defend this Profession by making the young ones feel safe, cared and pampered in his or her choice Profession.

 

Sitting in exquisite offices in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Makurdi etc to legislate and make verbal contributions to the way forward wont take the Profession anywhere, an injury to one is an injury to all, let us be our brothers keeper in times of distress! The statement concluded.