FCT Doctors Suspend Strike After Minister Wike’s Intervention
The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT) has called off its three-day warning strike following the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
In a statement released late Friday, the ARD-FCT President, Dr. George Ebong, confirmed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), under the minister’s leadership, had addressed the association’s demands.
The warning strike, which commenced on Jan. 22, had disrupted services in government hospitals across the FCT. The doctors cited unpaid arrears, allowances, poor hospital conditions, and staff shortages among their grievances.
Dr. Ebong revealed that members had started receiving six months’ worth of outstanding salary arrears. He also noted that Minister Wike had approved and initiated the immediate payment of accoutrement allowances, as well as other key measures, including:
Approving medical residency bonding training to two years. Authorizing the immediate employment of doctors and allied health workers. Sanctioning payments to locum doctors and other owed health workers.
“With the minister’s intervention, doctors are expected to resume work immediately,” Ebong stated, adding that the resolution had averted a potential indefinite shutdown of hospitals in Abuja.
The association commended Minister Wike for his swift action and urged him to implement mechanisms to prevent similar issues in the future. “We deeply appreciate the minister for his prompt and timely intervention. We are optimistic that other pending demands will be addressed in due time,” Ebong said.
He also invited the minister to visit district hospitals in the FCT and expressed confidence in his ability to revitalize the health sector as part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The ARD-FCT reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the minister’s efforts to transform healthcare delivery in the Federal Capital Territory.
