*Declare indefinite strike over unpaid salaries, poor working conditions
*Express concern over lack of manpower, poor welfare, among others
*Say that Union had repeatedly engaged mgt over the issues without results
*Insist that FCT with just about 300 doctors, requires immediate employment of new ones
By Eunice Orike
Doctors under the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has again embarked on an indefinite strike, citing unpaid salaries, lack of promotions, and overwhelming workload as reasons for their action.
Recall, last week, the ARD-FCTA embarked on a seven-day warning strike to press home its demands for better working conditions and the non-payment of entitlements.
The doctors also expressed concern over a lack of manpower, poor welfare, among others.
According to them, the development was taking its toll on the physicians.
ARD-FCTA threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if “meaningful dialogue” is not held within days to address their grievances.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Abuja, the General Secretary of ARD FCTA, Dr. Agbo Affiong said the union had repeatedly engaged management over the issues without results.
“Some of our members who replaced colleagues that died, retired, or left in 2023 have not been paid salaries running into several months, despite several letters, meetings, and even a one-week warning strike, the government has failed to act,” he said.
He explained that beyond unpaid salaries, the health system in the FCT is collapsing under the weight of severe understaffing.
“In some hospitals, one doctor does the work of five to ten. You may be in theatre operating on a pregnant woman and get called to attend to another emergency. Sometimes a doctor has to operate alone without assistance. Nurses too are overworked, wards with 50 beds may have only one nurse on duty,” he lamented.
The doctors also pointed to poor infrastructure and inadequate facilities.
“Nyanya General Hospital has just 42 beds but attends to thousands of patients every month. Often there is no bed space, no couch, not even a chair in the emergency room. When patients die after referrals, doctors face litigations as though it was their fault,” Agbo added.
Other grievances include the suspension of promotions since 2023, non-payment of residency training funds critical for professional development, and the failure of FCTA to implement the 25–35% salary review already adopted by federal and state governments. Wage awards and COVID-19 allowances are also outstanding.
“Morale among FCT doctors is very low. There are millions of residents in Abuja, yet just over 300 doctors are expected to serve them all. While unpaid entitlements must be settled, the bigger crisis is employment. We are simply overwhelmed,” the association stressed.
Following months of fruitless engagements, the doctors said they were left with no choice but to escalate.
