FCT resident doctors kick-off 7-day warning strike
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory has begun a seven-day warning strike to protest poor welfare conditions and unpaid entitlements.
The decision was announced on Monday in a communiqué signed by the association’s President, George Ebong, and other executives.
According to the doctors, the FCT health system is burdened by long-standing structural challenges that require urgent reform.
Ebong explained that resident doctors in the territory are working under extreme pressure, often covering multiple departments at the same time.
He urged the federal government to take immediate action to address the worsening situation, warning that continued neglect could result in “a systemic collapse.”
The association listed manpower shortages, faulty equipment, unpaid allowances, and poor working conditions as key problems needing intervention. It also raised concerns over delayed promotions, unpaid salaries, and underpayment of staff who had been promoted.
Ebong further stressed the need for frontline professionals to be included in healthcare decision-making.
To press home its demands, the association gave the FCT administration a one-week deadline to implement meaningful reforms in staffing and welfare or face a one-week strike.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, expressed optimism that ongoing talks with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) would prevent the strike.
“The National Association of Resident Doctors has issued an ultimatum, but I believe with the level of conversation ongoing, we are making progress. We had a meeting on Monday,” Salako said during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
He noted that the central issue was the outstanding residency training allowance, about 40 per cent of which for 2025 had not yet been paid.
When asked if the government could guarantee a resolution before the ultimatum expires, Salako replied: “That is my hope, and that is what we are working on.”
NARD had earlier, on September 1, issued a 10-day ultimatum to relevant government agencies, warning that members would embark on a nationwide strike if demands were not met.
The resolution was contained in a communiqué signed by NARD President, Tope Osundara; General Secretary, Oluwasola Odunbaku; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Omoha Amobi, after an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Sunday.
This development followed a three-week ultimatum issued in July, after which the NEC granted its National Officers’ Committee additional time to engage stakeholders before reconvening.
The E-NEC accused the federal government of failing to keep its promises, noting that many resident doctors had not received their 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund. It also faulted the refusal to clear five months’ arrears from the 25 per cent/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, along with other outstanding salaries.
