By Sarah NEGEDU
Resident doctors in the employ of the Federal Capital Territory Administration on Wednesday, begun a three-day warning strike to protest unpaid salaries, allowances, and poor working conditions.
The doctors under the auspices of Association of Resident Doctors, ARD FCTA, highlighted the government’s failure to disburse the Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF, for 2024.
The strike, which follows the expiration of a three-week ultimatum issued to the government, affects all government hospitals in Abuja, including those in Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, Kubwa, Zuba, Kwali, Abaji, and Nyanya.
President of ARD FCTA, Dr. George Ebong, at a press conference lamented the dire state of healthcare delivery in the nation’s capital, regretting that FCTA doctors have are owed over six months’ salaries.
He described the MRTF as essential for professional development, criticizing the delay despite other centers receiving their allocations.
“Doctors have been abandoned projects,” he said. “While roads and infrastructure are prioritized, the welfare of doctors and healthcare workers is neglected. The FCT hospitals are in decay, and healthcare delivery is on the brink of collapse.”
Dr. Ebong appealed to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to urgently address the situation and prevent an indefinite strike.
“This warning strike is our last resort after countless dialogues and unfulfilled promises,” he said. “If no action is taken after these three days, we will appraise the situation and may embark on an indefinite strike.”
ARD painted a grim picture of the state of healthcare in the FCT, citing severe manpower shortages, outdated equipment, and hospitals operating without basic amenities like water.
“Our hospitals lack essential tools, forcing doctors to improvise during surgeries. Facilities built for 50 beds now handle hundreds of patients daily. The system is stretched beyond capacity, leaving doctors overworked and burnt out,” he said.
The resident doctors therefore called for immediate efforts to replace doctors leaving Nigeria for better opportunities abroad, adding that the current conditions are unsustainable.
They urged Nigerians to support their cause, stressing that a broken healthcare system affects everyone.
“This is not about money but survival. We cannot deliver quality care under these appalling conditions,” Dr. Ebong added.
The association warned that further inaction could lead to a complete shutdown of healthcare services in the nation’s capital, urging the Federal Government and stakeholders to act swiftly.
