The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA) has confirmed the partial payment of outstanding salary arrears and the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) by the FCT Administration but insists its indefinite strike will continue until all its demands are fully addressed.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the association’s president, Dr George Ebong, the ARD-FCTA described the recent payments as “a commendable first step” but noted that several doctors were still excluded from the disbursements.
According to the association, 28 doctors who had been owed salary arrears ranging from one month to one year received payments “two nights ago”. However, only 103 out of 150 doctors owed the MRTF were paid, leaving 47 doctors still awaiting their entitlements. Salaries for October were also paid on Tuesday, the statement added.
The ARD-FCTA, which represents doctors working across 14 district and general hospitals under the FCT Administration, embarked on an indefinite strike last Saturday in line with a nationwide industrial action declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
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The strike, the association said, aims to press for improved working conditions, fair remuneration, and the resolution of long-standing arrears affecting both internal and external resident doctors.
While commending the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for initiating the implementation of their demands, the group stressed that the strike would not be called off until every affected doctor receives payment and other issues are resolved.
“Our demands include the immediate payment of the remaining 47 doctors’ MRTF, the settlement of arrears owed to external resident doctors for six to seven months, as well as the long-standing skipping, promotion, and post-Part 2 conversion arrears,” the statement read.
The association further listed other unmet demands such as the implementation of the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) adjustment, payment of 13-month hazard allowance arrears dating back to 2021, and the employment of additional staff to ease the pressure on existing personnel.
“These demands are very pertinent to this strike and form the prerequisite for its suspension, both at the national and FCTA levels,” Dr Ebong stated.
The group expressed appreciation for ongoing dialogues with the National Assembly and FCTA management but criticised the government’s reactive approach to labour issues.
“The management and the government should not always wait for a strike before attending to our yearnings,” the association cautioned.
While reiterating its commitment to patient care, ARD-FCTA maintained that it would not resume work until all outstanding issues are conclusively addressed.
“We appreciate the FCT Minister for his leadership and commitment, but the indefinite strike continues until every one of our demands is met,” the statement concluded.
