FCT doctors call off strike after Wike’s intervention

The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has called off its warning strike after the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The President of the Association, Dr. George Ebong, in a statement late Friday, said the FCTA under Wike has met their demands.

On Wednesday, the doctors grounded all FCTA-owned hospitals in Abuja over unpaid arrears and other demands.

However, Ebong revealed that its members have started receiving alerts of the 6-month salary arrears.

He also said the Minister has approved and ordered immediate payment of the accoutrement allowance that was owed; approval of the medical residency bonding to 2 years; approval of the immediate employment of doctors and allied health workers to cushion the severe shortage of manpower; and approval and immediate payment of locum doctors and other health workers that were owed.

Ebong therefore noted that with the intervention by Wike, doctors in the FCT are requested to resume work today, Saturday, 25 January 2025.

He added that the intervention had put an end to the impending indefinite shutdown of hospitals in Abuja.

Ebong, however, urged the minister to meet other of its demands to avert future strike action.

“On behalf of the executive members and the entire supreme congress of the Association of the Resident Doctors, FCTA, I, Dr. George Ebong, deeply appreciate the Honourable Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his prompt and timely intervention in meeting our demands, thereby ending our warning shutdown and averting a looming timeless shutdown.

“The Honourable Minister intervened, approved, and ordered the immediate payment of the following:

T”he 6 months of arrears of the salaries owed to doctors and other health workers; the Medical Residency Training Funds (2024) that were owed; Approval of the immediate payment of the accoutrement allowance that was owed; Approval of the medical residency bonding to 2 years; Approval of the immediate employment of doctors and allied health workers to cushion the severe shortage of manpower; Approval and immediate payment of locum doctors and other health workers that were owed.

“With this timely intervention by the Honourable Minister, every resident doctor is expected to resume his/her duty post tomorrow by 8:00 hours.

“We also humbly plead with the Honourable Minister to put a mechanism in place to avoid a repeat of this anomaly.

“While we sincerely appreciate the goodwill of the Honourable Minister, we are also hopeful that our other demands will be attended to in due time, such as the payment of the hazard allowance, the upgrading and the rehabilitation of our healthcare facilities, the conversion of post part 2 to consultant cadre, among others.

“As stakeholders in the Renewed Hope Agenda, we strongly believe in your capacity as the Honourable Minister to turn the health sector of FCTA into a reference point for others to follow.

“Be rest assured of our continuous support in the actualisation of this agenda.

“We hope that you will visit our district hospitals in no distant time as we eagerly await to warmly receive you.”