The Association of Resident Doctors in the federal capital territory (ARD-FCT) has suspended its indefinite strike.
Speaking with TheCable on Friday, George Ebong, the association’s president, confirmed that members will return to work on Monday.
He said while none of the doctors’ demands have been met, the decision to temporarily suspend the strike followed interventions from the senate.
“The senate, FCT area council, intervened yesterday and said we should give them time to act on our demands,” he said.
Advertisement
“Out of respect that we have for the minister of health and the senate, we decided to suspend our strike action.
“However, we did not call off the strike. We only suspended it. It is not an indefinite suspension. They will have to act on our demands in the earliest time possible after which we will meet and decide the next line of action.”
BACKGROUND
Advertisement
The association embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday, citing unpaid salary arrears, poor welfare conditions, and the collapse of health facilities in Abuja.
Among the grievances outlined by ARD-FCT are the immediate payment of all outstanding salary arrears to members employed since 2023 and the commencement of fresh recruitment of doctors with written, time-bound commitments to conclude the process before the end of 2025.
The association is also demanding the payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for doctors’ professional training, the immediate stoppage of erroneous deductions from salaries, and the correction of irregular salary payments.
Demands also include the conversion of post-part II fellows to the consultant cadre within six months of qualifying, the release of promotion timelines, and full payment of promotion arrears within one month.
Advertisement
On Thursday, the senate committee on FCT area councils and ancillary matters appealed to members of the association to immediately suspend their ongoing strike.
The committee also pledged to engage with Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, to address the doctors’ demands and find a resolution.
