Senate panel begs FCT resident doctors to call off strike

The senate committee on federal capital territory (FCT) area councils and ancillary matters has appealed to striking resident doctors in the FCT to suspend their industrial action.

On Monday, the FCT chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) declared an indefinite strike, citing welfare and infrastructure challenges.

The doctors had earlier embarked on a seven-day warning strike.

The lawmakers pledged to engage Nyesom Wike, FCT minister, on the grievances raised by the doctors.

During an emergency meeting on Thursday with leaders of NARD-FCT, David Jimkuta, committee chair and senator representing Taraba south, acknowledged the legitimacy of the doctors’ concerns.

“We are pleading with you, return to work and give us the opportunity to mediate. I will personally take up this matter with the minister tomorrow. Our people are suffering; we must act swiftly,” Jimkuta said.

He said the strike is taking a severe toll on patients, many of whom rely on public healthcare facilities in the capital.

The senator commended the doctors for staying back in the country despite the worsening conditions and said their demands were not selfish but aimed at strengthening the health system.

Tope Osundara, NARD president, told the senators that the government’s failure to meet previous commitments left doctors with no choice.

Osundara said hospitals across the FCT remain ill-equipped, putting patients at risk and increasing the burden on medical personnel.

He added that little progress has been achieved after previous talks, fuelling frustration and accelerating brain drain in the sector.

The association listed its grievances to include payment of salary arrears dating back to 2023, reversal of unexplained deductions from allowances, and provision of diagnostic tools such as X-ray machines and echocardiographs.

Several senators sympathised with the doctors, describing their demands as reflective of the dire realities within Nigeria’s healthcare system.

The committee requested that the doctors submit detailed statistics, including the number of affected personnel and unpaid allowances, to enable lawmakers to present a stronger case to the executive.

As a next step, lawmakers proposed a joint session with the FCT health administration to facilitate dialogue and reach a resolution.