The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has embarked on a seven-day warning strike, citing systemic failures and long-standing deficiencies in the territory’s health sector.
The action was announced in a communiqué signed by the association’s President, George Ebong, and other executive members.
According to the doctors, the FCT health system has been crippled by structural weaknesses, leaving resident doctors overburdened and often compelled to manage multiple departments simultaneously.
Ebong warned that without urgent intervention, the worsening challenges could result in a “systemic collapse.” He listed manpower shortages, non-functional equipment, unpaid allowances, delayed promotions, underpayment of promoted staff, and poor working conditions as key issues requiring immediate government action.
The association handed the FCT administration a one-week ultimatum to begin meaningful reforms, particularly in staffing and welfare, or face a full-scale strike. It also stressed that frontline health workers must be actively involved in policymaking.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, expressed optimism that talks with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) would resolve the crisis. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Salako explained that the main issue remained the unpaid residency training allowance, adding that about 40 per cent of the 2025 allocation had yet to be released.
“The National Association of Resident Doctors has issued an ultimatum, but I believe with the level of conversation ongoing, we are making progress. We had a meeting on Monday,” the minister said.
When asked if government could guarantee a resolution before the ultimatum expired, Salako replied: “That is my hope, and that is what we are working on.”
