The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD FCTA), has commenced a three-day warning strike to protest unpaid salaries, allowances, and other unresolved demands.
The strike, which began on Wednesday, has brought activities in government hospitals across Abuja to a halt.
President of ARD FCTA, Dr. George Ebong, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja, stating that the decision to embark on the industrial action followed the expiration of a three-week ultimatum issued to the government last year.
Dr. Ebong expressed concerns over the neglect of doctors’ welfare and hospital infrastructure in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to urgently address the situation to prevent an indefinite shutdown of medical services.
“The three-day strike is being implemented across all government hospitals in Abuja, including Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, Kubwa, Zuba, Kwali, Abaji, and Nyanya,” Dr. Ebong said.
He noted that despite multiple dialogues and the government’s request for a two-week extension to address the issues, no tangible progress had been made.
“We gave the government a three-week ultimatum to meet our demands. After that, we engaged in dialogue, and they pleaded for two more weeks, but nothing has been done since then—not even the minimum action. We expected them to pay the six months of unpaid arrears owed to doctors,” he said.
The ARD FCTA president lamented the lack of attention to doctors’ welfare, describing them as “abandoned projects.” He urged the FCT Minister to consider their plight alongside other development efforts in the capital city.
Dr. Ebong warned that the association would review the situation after the warning strike and could embark on an indefinite strike if their demands remain unmet.
This development follows a similar warning issued by ARD FCTA in December 2024 over the failure of the government to address their grievances.
