The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory has announced a seven‑day warning strike, citing poor working conditions, inadequate remuneration, and substandard facilities. The strike began on September 8, 2025, and is intended to pressure the Federal Capital Territory Administration to address the association’s demands.
According to the association’s president, George Ebong, public hospitals in Abuja face numerous challenges, including infestations of snakes and other reptiles that have already caused the deaths of some doctors from snake bites. The current state of the hospitals has been described as deplorable and embarrassing, with doctors lacking basic equipment and consumables. The association also warns that the mental health of its members is deteriorating because of these conditions, which hampers their ability to provide adequate patient care.
The association’s demands include immediate payment of salary arrears, recruitment of new doctors, and disbursement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund. It also seeks the release of documented timelines for the completion of “skipping and conversion” for all members, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding mandating the skipping of members within three months of employment. A communique issued after a meeting on September 5, 2025, outlined twelve resolutions, among them the urgent renovation and upgrading of FCTA hospitals to world‑class standards.
The association has emphasized that the shutdown will remain in place until its demands are met. The Federal Capital Territory Administration is expected to respond during the seven‑day strike period; failure to resolve the issues may lead the association to consider further action. A swift resolution is essential to safeguard the well‑being of both patients and medical professionals in Abuja.
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