The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT), on Monday commenced a seven-day warning strike, citing years of unresolved grievances and what it described as administrative indifference from the FCT Administration.
President of the association, Dr George Ebong, announced the commencement of the industrial action in Abuja, following an emergency general meeting held on Friday, September 5. He said the decision became inevitable after “extensive but unproductive” engagements with relevant authorities on key welfare and operational challenges affecting resident doctors in the territory.
Among the major issues raised are acute manpower shortages, deteriorating working conditions, non-payment of salaries, unexplained salary deductions, and the psychological toll of excessive work hours. Dr Ebong said the situation has reached a critical point, noting that no new medical personnel have been employed in the FCT since 2011.
“Our members are overworked, covering multiple departments due to staff shortages. The system is at a breaking point,” he said. “The FCT health system has suffered long-standing systemic failure that requires urgent and comprehensive reform.”
The association also drew attention to the physical state of health facilities, citing poor infrastructure in emergency and consulting rooms, and security lapses. Dr Ebong referenced a recent tragic incident where a nurse was reportedly killed by a snake bite at the Abaji General Hospital.
He further criticised the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for allegedly ignoring multiple appeals and memos from the association outlining the dire conditions faced by frontline healthcare workers.
ARD-FCT is demanding the immediate declaration of a state of emergency across the 14 district and general hospitals in the FCT. The strike, Dr Ebong stated, will be uninterrupted for the full seven days, and if the issues remain unresolved, the union will embark on an indefinite strike.
“We have given a one-week window to commence meaningful reforms, particularly in staffing and welfare. If these demands are unmet, a total shutdown of health services under our purview will follow,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Isaq Salako, expressed optimism that ongoing talks with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at the national level would help prevent a prolonged crisis.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Salako acknowledged that the Federal Government was yet to fully pay the 2025 Residency Training Allowance, of which about 40 percent remains outstanding. However, he said discussions were progressing positively.
“The National Association of Resident Doctors has issued an ultimatum, but I believe, with the level of dialogue going on, we are making progress,” he said. “It is my hope that these issues will be resolved before the ultimatum expires.”
The FCT resident doctors’ strike adds to the growing wave of discontent in Nigeria’s health sector, where years of underfunding, poor infrastructure, and human resource gaps continue to strain service delivery.
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