Doctors under the Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA) on Monday commenced an indefinite strike after the expiration of a seven-day warning strike.
The decision was contained in a communique signed by the association’s President, Dr. George Ebong, and General Secretary, Dr. Agbor Affiong, following an emergency general meeting held on Sunday.
The ARD-FCTA, which comprises doctors across 14 district and general hospitals as well as the Department of Public Health under the FCTA, said the action became necessary after months of unresolved negotiations.
According to the communique, none of the association’s demands had been met despite repeated engagements with the administration.
“This once again confirms our fears of the chronic neglect of our healthcare system affecting the effectiveness of medical doctors in order to carry out care in the highest standard,” the statement read.
The striking doctors are demanding payment of salary arrears ranging from one to six months owed to members employed since 2023, immediate recruitment of new staff, settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and payment of arrears from the 25–35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.
Other demands include clear timelines for completing skipping and conversion processes, correction of erroneous salary deductions, regularisation of erratic salary payments, conversion of post-Part II Fellows to the Consultant cadre, and timely promotion exercises with full arrears paid.
The doctors also want the FCTA to settle wage award arrears, renovate and equip hospitals to world-class standards, pay outstanding hazard allowances, and clear three to four months’ salary arrears owed to newly employed external residents.
Following exhaustive deliberations, the doctors said Congress unanimously resolved to embark on the strike beginning 8:00 a.m. on Monday, September 15, 2025.
“We do hope that the management will do the urgent needful to meet all of our demands for the sake of our patients and ourselves,” the communique added.
