Doctors in the employment of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday began a three-day strike over unpaid 7 months’ salaries to their colleagues employed in 2023.
Due to the strike, patients who came for medical checkup at the Kubwa General Hospital, were shunned by the doctors.
It is learnt that strike though for three days might turn to an indefinite one if the government did not meet the doctors’ demand.
The Association of Resident Doctors in the territory had issued a 14-day day ultimatum strike warning to the FCT Minister on December 23 last year, demanding him to act urgently.
The ultimatum expired on January 6, 2025.
The doctors are demanding the minister to clear the Medical Residency Training Fund of 2024. Implementation of skipping and issuance of skipping letters to its members employed in 2023.
The president of the association in Abuja, Dr. George Ebong, who outlined the demand include, “Immediate payment of accouterments allowance for 2024, and payment of outgoing 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears, among others demands.”
According to one Mrs. Ihiaka, who accompanied her daughter who was seen on a wheelchair, lamented that the situation was sad, saying she would now have to go to a private hospital, no matter the cost.
She appealed to Wike to succeed to the doctors’ demand, as well as focus on the health and education sectors the way he is doing with infrastructural development.
“If the citizens that are going to use the infrastructure have suffered negligence in the health sector, then truly the crucial purpose of the governance has been defeated,” she stated.
FCT Permanent Secretary, Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, HSES, Dr. Babagana Adam, declined to speak on the development.
