Resident doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have commenced a seven-day warning strike over a long-standing systemic failure in Abuja’s health sector.
The latest industrial action, declared by the Association of Resident Doctors, FCT chapter (ARD-FCT), came amid growing frustration over worsening conditions, including manpower shortages, unpaid allowances, broken equipment, and unsustainable workloads for medical staff.
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The development was announced on Monday, September 8, in a communiqué signed by ARD-FCT President George Ebong and other executives.
The doctors warned that continued neglect of the sector could trigger a complete breakdown of healthcare delivery in the capital.
They are demanding urgent recruitment of health workers, provision of functional equipment, regular payment of salaries and allowances, among others.
This strike followed an earlier one in January 2025, which was called off after the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, intervened.
At the time, Ebong revealed that Wike had approved the payment of six months’ salary arrears, outstanding accoutrement allowances, and pledged to reduce medical residency bonding to two years.
He also noted that the minister authorised the recruitment of additional doctors and allied health workers to address staffing shortages and promised to ensure prompt payment of locum and other health workers.
The doctors resumed work on January 25, 2025. However, eight months later, the ARD-FCT gave the FCT administration a one-week deadline to begin implementing reforms, particularly on staffing and welfare, or risk further industrial action.