The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), has vowed to continue its ongoing strike until all outstanding demands are fully met by the government.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the President of ARD-FCTA, Dr George Ebong, expressed disappointment that despite repeated assurances and several interventions, the key issues raised months ago remain unresolved.
Ebong explained that the strike, which had earlier been suspended six weeks ago following the intervention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the National Assembly, was resumed due to what he described as the government’s failure to honour its commitments.
“Unfortunately, none of our demands have been implemented. We’re back to where we were before — nothing positive has happened yet,” he said. “Today, being the 3rd of November, we have not even been paid last month’s salary. It has become a culture in FCTA that salaries are not paid as and when due.”
The ARD-FCTA, which represents doctors across the FCTA’s 14 district and general hospitals, began its renewed industrial action on Saturday, coinciding with the nationwide strike declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The association decried the persistent non-payment of salaries, irregular deductions, and poor working conditions, describing the situation as demoralising. It revealed that 28 doctors employed in 2023 have yet to receive their salaries, despite several letters and meetings with management.
Similarly, newly recruited external resident doctors, employed about seven months ago, have also not been paid — a situation that has forced many to abandon their posts.
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The group also lamented the non-payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for about 142 doctors, despite federal approval. “This fund is meant to help doctors prepare for their professional exams. It is unacceptable that such crucial support has been withheld,” Ebong noted.
He further criticised the FCTA for employing new doctors at the wrong entry level. “They are being employed on CONMESS 2 instead of CONMESS 3, which discourages qualified doctors from joining the system. Some doctors left Lagos for Abuja but returned after seeing the poor pay,” he said.
Beyond salary and employment issues, ARD-FCTA decried the worsening state of healthcare infrastructure across the territory’s hospitals, urging the government to prioritise renovation, equipment, and staffing.
Ebong stressed that the FCT doctors would not suspend their strike even if the national body, NARD, decided to do so. “Our situation in FCTA is peculiar. Even if NARD suspends its strike today, we will continue ours until our demands are met. We have been patient enough,” he declared.
The doctors called on Minister Wike to urgently intervene, warning that bureaucratic delays might be sabotaging his previous directives. “We believe the Honourable Minister may not have the full picture. Despite his approval, some officials are holding back implementation,” Ebong alleged.
Among their key demands are the immediate payment of outstanding salary arrears to doctors employed since 2023, prompt disbursement of the 2025 MRTF, recruitment of new doctors with clear timelines, correction of irregular salary payments, payment of hazard and wage award arrears, and urgent renovation of FCTA hospitals.
The association also demanded the implementation of the 25/35 per cent CONMESS review, the conversion of post-Part II Fellows to consultant cadre, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding guaranteeing timely promotions and entitlements.
“We are ready to work, but we cannot give what we don’t have,” Ebong concluded.
