The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced a three-day warning strike to protest the non-payment of salaries, allowances, and other outstanding demands. The strike is a direct result of a Congress meeting held by the members on Tuesday.
In a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the President of ARD FCTA, Dr. George Ebong, explained that the action followed the expiration of a three-week ultimatum given to the FCT administration in 2024. Persecondnews recalls that the association had initially issued a 21-day ultimatum to FCT Minister Mr. Nyesom Wike on December 23, 2024, to address their grievances.
Dr. Ebong expressed his frustration with the neglect of hospitals and the welfare of doctors in the nation’s capital. He emphasized that doctors in Abuja had been left behind despite their crucial role in the healthcare system. The strike is being observed across all government hospitals in the FCT, including Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, Kubwa, Zuba, Kwali, Abaji, Nyanya, and other hospitals in Abuja.
Ebong further criticized the government’s failure to honor promises made during earlier discussions, stating, “We gave the government an ultimatum to meet our demands, and after several dialogues, they pleaded for two weeks, but after that elapsed, nothing has been done. Not even the minimum thing. We expected them to pay the six months of unpaid arrears to doctors.”
The ARD President emphasized the doctors’ frustration with unpaid arrears, stating that hazard allowances and promotion arrears were still pending, with some doctors still being paid for their old positions despite earning new titles. He referred to this as a slap in the face for the hard work and commitment shown by doctors.
Ebong warned that if the government fails to meet their demands after the three-day warning strike, an indefinite strike will be considered. He said: “If nothing is done, we will go on an indefinite strike. We want the Minister of FCT to solve this problem to prevent an indefinite shutdown of hospitals in Abuja.”
In 2024, the association had previously gone on a seven-day nationwide warning strike to protest the abduction of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna. Dr. Popoola and her family were abducted in December 2023, and the strike led to her release in October 2024 after being held captive for 10 months.
The ongoing strike underscores the critical need for the FCT administration to address the pressing issues related to the welfare of doctors to avoid further disruption in healthcare services in the capital.
