The Federal Capital Territory’s Minister, Nyesome Wike, intervened to end the warning strike by the Association of Resident Doctors in Abuja.
According to a statement released on Friday by the Association’s president, Dr. George Ebong, the FCTA under Wike has complied with their requests.
All Abuja hospitals controlled by the FCTA were grounded by the doctors on Wednesday due to unpaid arrears and other demands.
But in a Friday update, Dr. Ebong said that its members have begun to get notifications about the six-month salary arrears.
Additionally, he stated that Wike had authorised and directed the prompt payment of the owed accoutrement allowance, the two-year medical residency bond, the immediate hiring of physicians and allied health professionals to alleviate the acute manpower shortage, and the approval and prompt payment of locum physicians and other medical professionals.
As a result, Ebong stated that doctors in the FCT are being asked to return to work on Saturday, January 25, 2025, following Wike’s intervention.
He went on to say that the action has prevented the hospitals in Abuja from closing indefinitely.
However, to prevent further strikes, Ebong encouraged the minister to fulfil further demands.
“On behalf of the Association of the Resident Doctors, FCTA’s executive members, and the entire supreme congress, I, Dr. George Ebong, sincerely thank the Honourable Minister Nyesom Wike for his timely and effective intervention in meeting our demands, which put an end to our warning shutdown and prevented an impending permanent shutdown.
“The following were paid immediately when the Honourable Minister stepped in, authorised, and directed: the six-month salary arrears owed to doctors and other healthcare professionals; the outstanding Medical Residency Training Funds (2024); authorisation for the prompt payment of the outstanding accoutrement allowance; acceptance of the two-year medical residency bonding; authorisation for the prompt hiring of doctors and other health care professionals to alleviate the acute labour shortage; approving and paying locum doctors and other medical professionals right away.
“The Honourable Minister’s prompt action is intended to allow all resident doctors to return to their duty posts by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow. We respectfully request that the Honourable Minister establish a system to prevent a recurrence of this issue. Although we truly appreciate the Honourable Minister’s goodwill, we also hope that our other demands—such as the payment of the hazard allowance, the renovation and modernisation of our healthcare facilities, and the promotion of post-part 2 employees to consultant cadre—will be met promptly.
“As participants in the Renewed Hope Agenda, we firmly believe that you, as the Honourable Minister, have the ability to make FCTA’s health sector a model for others to follow.
“You may be confident that we will continue to assist in the realisation of this agenda. As we eagerly await your warm welcome, we sincerely hope you will visit our district hospitals soon.
“Thank you very much, our Honourable Minister; we do not take your goodwill for granted,” the statement read.
