Resident doctors employed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA) initiated an open-ended strike yesterday, following the conclusion of their initial seven-day warning strike.
This development has left many residents of the FCT perplexed, especially those unable to afford the steep fees charged by private healthcare providers.
At Nyanya General Hospital, a patient named Agatha shared her distressing experience. She revealed that she was advised to return this week for further treatment of a persistent cough and fever after the warning strike ended.
“I purchased malaria and cough medications from a nearby pharmacy, but my condition hasn’t improved. When I came back to the hospital today, I was informed that the doctors had commenced an indefinite strike. I’m at a loss,” she expressed with concern.
Another visitor, Umar Aisha, recounted how her son had been ill for several days. She waited until Monday, after the warning strike period, to seek medical help, only to find out that the doctors had already resumed their strike action.
Reports indicated that last week, hospitals were turning away new patients, advising them to return after the warning strike. At Nyanya General Hospital, the scenario remains unchanged, with nurses present but wards, including emergency rooms, largely empty.
Following an Emergency General Meeting held on Sunday, September 14, ARD-FCTA released a statement explaining that the indefinite strike was a result of the government’s failure to meet their longstanding demands despite the warning strike’s expiration.
The doctors, who serve in the 14 District and General Hospitals throughout the FCT as well as the Department of Public Health, outlined several grievances. These include unpaid salary arrears ranging from one to six months for staff employed since 2023, a lack of recruitment to address critical staffing shortages, and non-payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
Additional complaints involve unpaid arrears from the 25/35 percent upward review of CONMESS, outstanding hazard allowances, delayed wage awards, inconsistent salary payments, unexplained deductions, postponed promotions, and the stagnation of Fellows awaiting elevation to Consultant status. They also criticized the deteriorating condition of FCTA hospitals, describing them as “decaying structures far removed from centers of medical excellence.”
The doctors declared that their strike would persist indefinitely until the government shows a “sincere dedication to prioritizing healthcare in the FCT.”
Dr. George Ebong, President of ARD-FCTA, along with General Secretary Dr. Agbor Affiong, who endorsed the statement, urged the government to act swiftly “for the welfare of both patients and medical personnel.”
Meanwhile, patients across the FCT continue to suffer the consequences of the strike, with many left without care as government hospitals operate with minimal staff and limited services.
