FCTA resident doctors declare 3-Day warning strike over withheld salaries
By Idun Maximus
Resident doctors under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have declared a three-day warning strike to protest the non-payment of April 2025 salaries to 127 of their members and other health workers.
The decision followed an emergency general meeting of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-FCTA), held both physically and virtually at the Asokoro District Hospital in Abuja on Monday.
In a communique signed by ARD President and General Secretary, Dr. George Ebong and Dr Agbor Affiong, which was issued at the end of the meeting, the doctors expressed outrage over what they described as the “arbitrary and unjust” withholding of salaries, allegedly without prior notice or due diligence.
They accused the FCT Civil Service Commission of falsely tagging affected staff as absentees and removing their names from the payment platform, despite their continued service at various health facilities across the FCT.
“This is a disgraceful decision that has caused untold emotional, physical, psychological, and financial hardship. Over 100 dedicated staff have been denied their rightful earnings at a time when the welfare and remuneration of health workers is already depleted,” the communique read.
The association condemned the alleged exclusion of key stakeholders including hospital Medical Directors, the Director General of the Hospital Management Board, and the Permanent Secretary of Health, from the decision-making process. It also criticized the Civil Service Commission for its handling of the situation, accusing its officials of displaying “blatant arrogance, rudeness, and disdain” toward staff seeking clarification.
As part of its resolutions, ARD-FCTA announced the commencement of a warning strike from 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6 to 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2025.
The doctors are demanding Immediate payment of the withheld April salaries and reinstatement of the affected workers on the payroll and a written apology from the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission.
They also seek the resignation of the Commission’s Chairman, a statement from the Hospital Management Board affirming the employment and verification status of all affected staff and a peaceful protest march to the FCTA to press home their demands.
The association warned that it would reconvene to consider an indefinite strike if the issues remain unresolved.
Despite their grievances, the doctors expressed appreciation to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for infrastructural developments and for approving the recruitment of 315 additional healthcare workers, although they called for speedy implementation of that approval.
They urged the Minister to intervene in the ongoing crisis to prevent further disruption to healthcare services in the FCT.
The document copied relevant government officials and medical associations, including the Minister of State for the FCT, the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
