The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has called off its warning strike after a decisive intervention by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The strike, which began on Wednesday, led to a complete shutdown of FCTA-owned hospitals in Abuja as the doctors protested unpaid arrears and other unresolved demands. However, in a statement released on Friday, the ARD President, Dr. George Ebong, confirmed that the FCTA had addressed their concerns under Wike’s leadership.
Dr. Ebong revealed that members of the association had started receiving alerts for their six-month salary arrears, a major sticking point in their grievances. Additionally, Wike approved and ordered the immediate payment of outstanding accoutrement allowances and the 2024 Medical Residency Training Funds. He also sanctioned critical measures, including:
The reduction of medical residency bonding to two years.
The immediate recruitment of doctors and allied health workers to mitigate manpower shortages.
The payment of outstanding locum allowances for health workers.
Following these developments, Dr. Ebong announced that all resident doctors were expected to resume duties on Saturday, January 25, 2025, effectively averting a potential indefinite shutdown of hospitals in the FCT.
In his statement, Ebong expressed the association’s gratitude to Minister Wike for his swift intervention. “On behalf of the executive members and the entire congress of the ARD, FCTA, I, Dr. George Ebong, deeply appreciate the Honourable Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his prompt and timely intervention in meeting our demands,” he said.
The association also urged Wike to address outstanding demands, including the payment of hazard allowances, upgrading and rehabilitation of healthcare facilities, and the conversion of post-Part 2 doctors to the consultant cadre. Dr. Ebong emphasized the need for mechanisms to prevent a recurrence of the issues.
“As stakeholders in the Renewed Hope Agenda, we strongly believe in the Honourable Minister’s capacity to transform the health sector in the FCTA into a model for others to follow,” Ebong added.
He further encouraged Wike to visit district hospitals across the FCT, assuring him of the association’s continued support for his agenda.
The statement concluded with a note of appreciation, stating, “Thank you very much, our Honourable Minister; we do not take your goodwill for granted.”
