By Matthew Denis
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in the Federal Capital Territory has commenced a seven-day warning strike over what it described as collapsed system and failure of the federal capital Development Authority under the Minister, Nyeson Wike to address pressing issues.
The doctors announced the industrial action in a communique signed by George Ebong, ARD-FCT president, alongside other members of the executive.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the President of ARD-FCT, Dr George Ebong said the health sector in the nation’s capital is plagued by long-standing systemic failures that require comprehensive and urgent reforms.
He called for urgent intervention in areas like manpower shortages, non-functional equipment, poor working conditions, and unpaid staff allowances.
According to him doctors in the FCT were under immense pressure, frequently covering multiple departments, reiterating that continued neglect could cause systemic collapse.
He said, “the issues include a lack of manpower, unpaid salaries, unexplained deductions, and the psychological toll of long working hours on doctors, which he said recently contributed to the death of a colleague in Port Harcourt. He also noted that no employment had taken place in the FCT health sector since 2011.
“Doctors in the FCT are under immense pressure, frequently covering multiple departments,” Ebong said, describing the health system as a long-standing failure requiring urgent reform.
The President further decried poor working conditions in hospitals, citing a recent case in which a nurse died from a snake bite at Abaji General Hospital.
Ebong accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of ignoring several notifications from the association, and urged the administration to declare a state of emergency on the 14 district and general hospitals in the territory.
“The seven-day warning strike will be uninterrupted. If after seven days the issues raised are not resolved, we will embark on an indefinite strike,” he warned, adding that frontline professionals must be included in decision-making.
The president noted that after the seven days warning strike they will reconvene to determine next line of industrial action should the government fails to address the lingering issues.
He appealed to doctors to observe the directives and call the attention of the Secretariat should there is intimidation.