Doctors in Abuja have called off their strike following the intervention of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under Minister Nyesom Wike, which addressed their key demands.
The President of the association, George Ebong, announced the resolution in a statement on Friday, confirming that the FCTA has fulfilled several commitments, including the payment of six months’ salary arrears.
Naija News reports that the doctors had shut down all FCTA-owned hospitals on Wednesday, citing unpaid arrears and other grievances. However, in an update, Dr. Ebong revealed significant progress made by the FCTA.
“Our members have started receiving alerts of the six-month salary arrears,” Ebong stated. “Minister Wike has also approved and ordered immediate payment of the accoutrement allowance owed.”
Ebong further disclosed additional measures taken by the FCTA:
– Approval of a two-year residency bonding program for medical residents.
– Immediate recruitment of doctors and allied health workers to address manpower shortages.
– Payment of locum doctors and other health workers owed arrears.
Following the intervention, the association directed its members to resume work on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
While commending Wike’s actions, Ebong urged the FCTA to address outstanding demands to prevent future disruptions.
The statement reads, “On behalf of the executive members and the entire supreme congress of the Association of the Resident Doctors, FCTA, I, Dr. George Ebong, deeply appreciate the Honourable Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his prompt and timely intervention in meeting our demands, thereby ending our warning shutdown and averting a looming timeless shutdown.
“The Honourable Minister intervened, approved, and ordered the immediate payment of the following:
“The six months of arrears of the salaries owed to doctors and other health workers; the Medical Residency Training Funds (2024) that were owed; Approval of the immediate payment of the accoutrement allowance that was owed; Approval of the medical residency bonding to 2 years; Approval of the immediate employment of doctors and allied health workers to cushion the severe shortage of manpower; Approval and immediate payment of locum doctors and other health workers that were owed.
“With this timely intervention by the Honourable Minister, every resident doctor is expected to resume his/her duty post tomorrow by 8:00 hours.
“We also humbly plead with the Honourable Minister to put a mechanism in place to avoid a repeat of this anomaly.
“While we sincerely appreciate the goodwill of the Honourable Minister, we are also hopeful that our other demands will be attended to in due time, such as the payment of the hazard allowance, the upgrading and the rehabilitation of our healthcare facilities, the conversion of post part 2 to consultant cadre, among others.
“As stakeholders in the Renewed Hope Agenda, we strongly believe in your capacity as the Honourable Minister to turn the health sector of FCTA into a reference point for others to follow.
“Be rest assured of our continuous support in the actualisation of this agenda.
“We hope that you will visit our district hospitals in no distant time as we eagerly await to warmly receive you.
“Thank you very much, our Honourable Minister; we do not take your goodwill for granted.”