Doctors protest unpaid salaries, ground Abuja hospitals

• Gunmen abduct medical doctor in Anambra
Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), commenced a three-day warning strike over unpaid salaries, allowances and other demands.

The strike grounded activities in government hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a related development, gunmen have abducted Dr Cornelius Onuigbo, a urologist in the Department of Surgery at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State. The abduction occurred, Tuesday evening, at the gate of Onuigbo’s residence in Nnewi as he returned home from work.

President of ARD FCTA, Dr George Ebong, disclosed this in a briefing, yesterday, in Abuja.

Ebong, who said the strike followed a three-week ultimatum issued last year by the doctors, decried the neglect of hospitals and doctors’ welfare in the capital city.

According to him, doctors in Abuja have become abandoned projects, calling on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to intervene, to avoid an indefinite shutdown of hospitals.

The decision to embark on the three-day warning strike, he stressed, was a fallout of its congress on Tuesday.

He said: “The three-day strike is being implemented across all government hospitals in Abuja. From Wuse to Asokoro, Maitama, Kubwa, Zuba, Kwali, Abaji, Nyanya and all of our hospitals in Abuja.

“We gave the government a three-week ultimatum to meet our demands, and after that, we met with them and dialogued on several occasions. They pleaded for two weeks, but after that elapsed, nothing has been done. Not even the minimum thing. We expected them to settle the six months unpaid salaries to doctors.”

After the three-day strike, he added, the doctors would do an appraisal, and proceed on an indefinite strike, if nothing is done.

He said: “We want the Minister of FCT to solve this problem to avert an indefinite shutdown of the hospitals in Abuja. We are striking because we have no other choice. This is not just about salaries or allowances; it is about ensuring that our hospitals can function, that we can work with dignity and that patients can receive the care they deserve.

“Many believe doctors are always demanding money, but this is not about greed; it is about survival. No Nigerian can go six months without pay. No professional should work 36-72 hour shifts without rest because there are no replacements.”

Last month, ARD FCTA warned of an impending shutdown over failure to meet its demands.

Witnesses reported that the armed men intercepted him with their vehicle, forced him into it, and drove off.

One of the sources said: “The medical doctor was rounded up by some armed men, suspected to be kidnappers, as he was about to enter the gate of his residence. They had a few conversations with him after which they asked him to enter into their vehicle and they drove off.

“No one knows the reason for the development. Although the suspected kidnappers have not reached out to the family, the family is already making efforts to secure his release.”

A staff of the university, who didn’t want his name in print, confirmed the development, saying, “The institution is aware of the incident and we are doing the needful. That is all I can say for now”.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, also confirmed the incident.