The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT), has embarked on a seven-day warning strike following what it described as the persistent neglect of critical issues affecting the health sector in Abuja.
The decision was announced by ARD-FCT President, Dr. George Ebong, after an emergency general meeting held on Friday, September 5. According to him, despite several rounds of discussions with the FCT Administration, key concerns remain unresolved.
Among the grievances highlighted were acute manpower shortages, the mental toll of excessive working hours on doctors—which, he noted, recently contributed to the death of a colleague in Port Harcourt—unpaid salaries, and unexplained deductions. He pointed out that there has been no recruitment of doctors in the FCT since 2011, a situation that has left the system overstretched.
Describing the FCT health sector as a “long-standing systemic failure requiring comprehensive and immediate reform,” Ebong said resident doctors are under immense strain, often covering multiple departments simultaneously. He also cited poor infrastructure in emergency and consulting rooms, adding that the recent death of a nurse from a snake bite at Abaji General Hospital underscores the hazards faced by medical professionals.
Ebong accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of ignoring repeated notifications about these issues and urged the administration to declare a state of emergency across the 14 district and general hospitals in the territory. He insisted that the strike will run its full course, warning that if no meaningful progress is made within the seven days, doctors would have no choice but to escalate to an indefinite strike.
He further called for inclusive decision-making that prioritises frontline health workers and gave the FCT administration a week to initiate tangible reforms in staffing and welfare.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isaq Salako, expressed optimism that ongoing negotiations with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) could avert a prolonged shutdown. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Salako acknowledged that the main issue revolves around the outstanding residency training allowance, about 40 percent of which for 2025 is yet to be paid.
He assured that discussions were in progress to resolve the matter, noting: “The National Association of Resident Doctors has issued an ultimatum, but I believe with the level of conversation ongoing, we are making progress. That is my hope, and that is what we are working on.”
What You Should Know
Resident doctors in Abuja have begun a seven-day warning strike over manpower shortages, unpaid allowances, poor infrastructure, and welfare issues.
Their union warns that if the government fails to act within the week, an indefinite strike could follow, potentially paralyzing healthcare delivery across the FCT.
