The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCTA), Abuja, has officially called off its warning strike after intervention from the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
In a statement released on Friday evening, the President of the Association, Dr. George Ebong, confirmed that the FCTA had met the doctors’ demands under Wike’s leadership.
This followed a strike action that began on Wednesday, which had seen doctors suspend services at all FCTA-owned hospitals due to unpaid salary arrears and other unresolved issues.
Dr. Ebong shared that members had begun receiving alerts for the six months’ salary arrears owed to them.
He also highlighted other significant resolutions, including the approval for the immediate payment of outstanding accoutrement allowances, the approval of medical residency bonding for two years, and the employment of new doctors and health workers to address the severe shortage in the sector.
Additionally, the Minister’s intervention ensured the immediate payment of owed locum doctors and health workers.
With these issues addressed, Dr. Ebong announced that doctors would resume work on Saturday, January 25, 2025, and expressed gratitude for the Minister’s swift action, which prevented a more prolonged shutdown of healthcare services in Abuja.
However, he urged the Minister to resolve other pending issues, such as hazard allowance payments, the rehabilitation of healthcare facilities, and the upgrading of post-part 2 doctors to consultant cadre, to prevent future strike actions.
On behalf of the doctors, Dr. Ebong expressed appreciation for Wike’s intervention and reiterated their commitment to supporting the Minister’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” in transforming the healthcare sector in Abuja into a model for others to follow.
He also called for a visit to district hospitals to see the challenges faced by frontline health workers firsthand.
