The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT), has embarked on a seven-day warning strike, citing long-standing neglect of the health sector by the FCT Administration.
The announcement was made in Abuja by ARD-FCT President, Dr. George Ebong, who explained that the decision followed resolutions reached at the association’s emergency general meeting held on Friday, September 5.
According to Dr. Ebong, the strike became necessary after repeated dialogues with the FCT Administration yielded no tangible results.
He accused the authorities of failing to address persistent problems affecting doctors and the healthcare system.
The issues raised include:
- Acute manpower shortage in FCT hospitals, with no new employment since 2011.
- Unpaid salaries and unexplained deductions, which have worsened financial stress for doctors.
- Psychological and health impacts of overwork, including the recent death of a doctor in Port Harcourt.
- Poor infrastructure, especially in emergency and consulting rooms.
- Hazardous working conditions, citing a nurse killed by a snake bite at Abaji General Hospital.
Dr. Ebong noted that doctors are overstretched, often covering multiple departments due to inadequate staffing.
He described the FCT health system as a “long-standing systemic failure” that requires urgent reform.
The ARD-FCT leader called on the FCT Administration, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, to declare a state of emergency across the 14 district and general hospitals in the territory.
He alleged that Wike has been repeatedly notified of the dire situation but has chosen to ignore the plight of health workers.
“The seven-day warning strike will be uninterrupted,” Ebong declared, warning that if the authorities fail to act, doctors will embark on an indefinite strike.
He added that frontline health professionals must be part of decision-making in the sector if meaningful reforms are to be achieved.
Federal Government Reaction
Reacting to the development, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isaq Salako, expressed optimism that ongoing talks with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) would prevent a nationwide escalation.
Salako, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, admitted that a major issue remains the outstanding residency training allowance, with about 40 percent of the 2025 allocation yet unpaid.
“The National Association of Resident Doctors has issued an ultimatum, but I believe with the level of conversation ongoing, we are making progress,” he said.
When asked if the government could guarantee a resolution before the ultimatum expires, the minister replied: “That is my hope, and that is what we are working on.”
The strike action has sparked fears of further strain on Abuja’s already stretched health facilities.
Patients may face delays in emergency care and routine services if the dispute is not resolved within the one-week window.
Doctors insist that unless urgent reforms are initiated, the FCT health sector risks total collapse
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