The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA) says none of its demands has been met despite suspending its indefinite strike.
Speaking on Friday in Abuja during the flag off of the construction of the Northern Parkway from Ring Road II to Ring III on Shehu Yar’Adua way, by Life Camp, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said he had approved the demands of the resident doctors.
“I must commend the resident doctors for calling off the strike, the administration is happy with their understanding. I have signed all the doctors’ requests on my table today,” Wike said.
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When contacted, President of the association, Dr George Ebong, told Daily Trust that the strike was called off after the intervention of the Senate Committee on Federal Territory Area Councils and Ancillary Matters.
“The Senate Committee on Federal Territory Area Councils and Ancillary Matters intervened. Even though none of our demands has been met yet, they assured us that they will talk to the minister, and the congress has decided to believe what the Senate committee has said,” Ebong said in a WhatsApp message.
He explained that the decision was also influenced by the association’s respect for the Senate committee, regard for the FCT Minister, and concern for patients.
“Our high regards for the Senate committee, our respect for the FCT Minister and our love for our patients are the reasons for the strike to be suspended, hoping that all our demands would be met. We have to keep saving lives as we have sworn to do,” he added.
ARD-FCTA had declared an indefinite strike on Monday, following the “failure of management to address our legitimate demands, even after a one-week warning strike.”
The association had earlier commenced a seven-day warning strike over what they called systemic failures in the FCT’s health sector.
The doctors listed poor welfare conditions, unpaid salaries, unexplained deductions, acute manpower shortages, the psychological toll of long working hours, and the absence of new recruitment in FCT hospitals since 2011 as pressing concerns.
