“Abuja’s Healthcare Crisis: ARD FCTA Calls for Urgent Action After Six Months Without Pay”
The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD FCTA), has embarked on a three-day warning strike, highlighting the dire conditions faced by healthcare workers in Abuja. The protest comes in response to six months of unpaid salaries, unfulfilled allowances, and unmet demands that have crippled the medical community in the capital.
Dr. George Ebong, President of ARD FCTA, addressed the media on Wednesday, revealing that the decision to strike follows a three-week ultimatum issued last year, which the government failed to meet. Despite ongoing dialogues, doctors are still waiting for their basic entitlements, and the situation in hospitals across the city has become unbearable.
Ebong emphasized the neglect of the medical workforce and the dire state of Abuja’s hospitals, with many facing overcrowding, outdated equipment, and a critical shortage of medical staff. The warning strike has grounded activities in major government hospitals in Abuja, including Wuse, Asokoro, and Kubwa, leaving thousands of patients without care.
Unpaid Salaries and Neglected Welfare: A Cry for Help
The strike follows the accumulation of six months of unpaid salaries for doctors, who have worked tirelessly without compensation. Many have resigned, not out of desire to leave, but because they are unable to survive without their pay. The resulting manpower shortage has left remaining doctors overworked and demoralized, further exacerbating the collapse of the healthcare system.
“The situation is critical,” said Dr. Ebong. “We are faced with the unbearable choice of continuing to work in a system that does not value us, or leaving for better opportunities abroad. But the truth is, we are all leaving because there is simply no dignity in staying under these conditions.”
Unmet Entitlements: The Medical Residency Training Fund and Allowances
In addition to unpaid salaries, doctors in the FCT are still awaiting their share of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for 2024, while other regions have already moved on to the next cycle. Promises regarding allowances for medical tools and hazard payments have been repeatedly broken, and many doctors continue to serve without basic recognition for their work.
“We are not asking for luxuries; we are asking for what is rightfully ours,” Ebong said. “Without these funds, doctors cannot improve their skills, which ultimately harms our patients and the healthcare system.”
Abuja’s Healthcare System: A Disaster Waiting to Happen
The crisis in Abuja’s hospitals is not limited to unpaid salaries. The healthcare infrastructure is crumbling, with outdated equipment and insufficient resources to provide adequate care. Doctors spend more time fixing broken machines than treating patients, and basic supplies such as blood pressure monitors and thermometers are in short supply. In some hospitals, water has been unavailable for months, turning medical facilities into public health hazards.
“Can you imagine working in a hospital without access to water or basic medical tools?” asked Dr. Ebong. “This is the state of our hospitals in Abuja—the seat of the Nigerian government. It is a national embarrassment.”
The Call for Immediate Action: Averting an Indefinite Strike
After the three-day warning strike, ARD FCTA will reassess the situation. If the government fails to take immediate action, the association warns that the strike could escalate into an indefinite shutdown, further crippling Abuja’s already struggling healthcare system.
“We want to avert that,” Dr. Ebong stated. “But if nothing changes, we will have no choice but to continue our strike. Our priority is to ensure that doctors are paid, that our hospitals are properly equipped, and that patients can receive the care they deserve.”
The strike has drawn attention to the harsh realities of working in Nigeria’s healthcare system and the urgent need for reform. Doctors are not fighting for luxury but for their basic survival, and the fate of Nigeria’s healthcare system rests on whether the government can meet their demands before it’s too late.
A Plea for Understanding: The Fight for Better Healthcare for All Nigerians
Dr. Ebong concluded with a plea for the public’s understanding and support. “We are not the enemy,” he said. “This fight is for all of us. If the healthcare system collapses, we all suffer. We need your support as we continue to demand better conditions for both doctors and patients in Abuja and beyond.”
The ARD FCTA is calling for immediate government intervention to address these issues and ensure that the healthcare system can function effectively for the benefit of all Nigerians.
End of Statement
Dr. George Ebong
President, ARD FCTA
