The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT), has commenced its seven-day warning strike.
The ARD-FCT President, Dr. George Ebong, made the announcement in Abuja, saying the decision followed resolutions reached at the end of its emergency general meeting held on Friday, September 5,2025.
He said the decision is hinged on the attitude of the FCT Administration, despite rounds of extensive dialogue in addressing persistent and unresolved issues affecting the association.
Some of the issues raised by the association include lack of manpower, the psychological impact of long working hours on doctors which has resulted in the death of a doctor recently in Port Harcourt, unpaid salaries and unexplained deductions.
The president stated that there has not been any employment since 2011.
The resident doctors described the FCT health system as a long-standing systemic failure requiring comprehensive and immediate reform.
Ebong stressed that doctors in the FCT were under immense pressure, frequently covering multiple departments.
He called on the Federal Government to urgently address rising challenges in the health sector, warning that continued neglect could cause systemic collapse.
Ebong cited other demands to include poor working conditions, particularly the emergency and consulting rooms, and noted a case where a nurse was killed by snake bite in the Abaji General Hospital.
He said the FCT Minister, Mr.Nyesom Wike, has been notified several times of the issues affecting doctors but he has allegedly turned a blind eye.
The president called on the FCT administration to declare a state of emergency on the 14 district and general hospitals in the FCT, adding that the seven-day warning strike would be uninterrupted.
He warned that if after seven days the issues raised were not resolved, the doctors would embark on an indefinite strike.
Ebong advised that decision-making must include frontline health professionals.
To underscore the urgency, the association gave the FCT administration a one-week deadline to begin meaningful reforms, especially on staffing and welfare.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isaq Salako, has expressed confidence that the Federal Government’s ongoing talks with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) would prevent the strike.
“The National Association of Resident Doctors has issued an ultimatum, but I believe with the level of conversation ongoing,we are making progress,” he said during a live television interview recently.
According to him, the main issue is the outstanding residency training allowance, about 40 per cent of which for 2025 is yet to be paid.
He, however, assured that discussions are underway to resolve the matter.
