The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), has announced the suspension of its indefinite strike, confirming that members will return to work on Monday by 8 a.m.
Speaking with our correspondent on Friday, the President of the association, Dr. George Ebong, explained that the decision to temporarily halt the strike came after the intervention of the Senate Committee on Federal Territory Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, chaired by David Jimkuta. He, however, stressed that none of the doctors’ demands have been met so far.
The ARD-FCTA is made up of doctors working across 14 district and general hospitals, as well as the Department of Public Health under the FCTA. The strike, which began last Monday, was embarked upon after months of unsuccessful negotiations with the FCTA over several unresolved issues.
The doctors are demanding the payment of salary arrears ranging from one to six months owed to members employed since 2023. They are also calling for the immediate recruitment of new staff to address manpower shortages, the settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and the payment of arrears resulting from the 25–35 percent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
In addition, they are seeking clear timelines for completing skipping and conversion processes for members, along with the settlement of all accumulated arrears.
The association is also urging the FCTA to address continuous erroneous deductions from members’ salaries and fix the irregular and erratic salary payment pattern. They further demand the conversion of post-Part II Fellows to the Consultant cadre within six months of passing, as well as documented timelines for promotion exercises with full arrears paid.
Other issues include the payment of wage award arrears, renovation and proper equipping of FCTA hospitals to meet world-class standards, payment of outstanding hazard allowance arrears, and settlement of salary arrears owed to newly employed external residents who are currently owed three to four months’ pay.
Announcing the temporary suspension of the strike, Dr. Ebong stated:
“We are suspending the strike to begin work at 8 a.m. Monday morning.
The Senate Committee on Federal Territory Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, chaired by David Jimkuta, intervened. Even though none of our demands have been met yet, they assured us that they will talk to the minister, and the Congress has decided to believe what the Senate has said. We also appreciate the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for his interventions.
The Congress will reassemble to reassess the interventions within the agreed timeframe, and if nothing is done, the Congress will take the next line of action.”
The suspension of the strike provides temporary relief to patients and healthcare facilities across the FCT, but the doctors have warned that industrial action may resume if their grievances are not addressed within the agreed period.
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