Wike hails doctors for calling off strike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has commended the Association of Resident Doctors for ending their indefinite strike, describing it as the right decision in the interest of the residents.

The ARD-FCTA is an association of doctors practising in the 14 district and general hospitals, including the Department of Public Health under the FCTA.

reports that the doctors had embarked on the warning strike last Monday to press home their demands after months of unresolved negotiations with the FCTA.

The doctors had demanded the payment of salary arrears ranging from one to six months, owed to members employed since 2023. They also want the immediate recruitment of new staff, settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and payment of arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.

However, Wike gave the commendation on Friday, during the flag-off of the construction of the Northern Parkway from Ring Road II to Ring Road III.

He thanked the Chief of Staff, the FCT Civil Service Commission Chairman, the Acting Head of Service, and the Special Adviser Admin, for working painstakingly with the doctors to end the strike.

“First of all, let me thank the resident doctors of the FCT who have seen reasons for them to call off their strike, for the interest of the FCT, and for the interest of the nation.

That is the way it’s supposed to be, so on behalf of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, let me once more thank you, and thank the Chief of Staff, the Chairman of the Civil Service, and the Acting Head of Service, for painstakingly making sure that you work together and I thank the SA Admin for making sure that this strike is called off. It’s of no good to anybody,” he said.

reports that the association announced the suspension of the strike on Friday morning, stating that doctors will resume work from 8 a.m. on Monday.

The President of the FCT-ARD, Dr George Ebong, had explained to our correspondent that the decision to call off the strike followed the intervention of the Senate, noting that none of the doctors’ demands had been met so far.

However, in his address, the FCT Minister said he had approved every demand made by the doctors, adding that there was no need for blackmail, as all parties were working in the interest of the residents and the nation at large.

“Before I came here, virtually all their requests, I have signed them. So all we have asked for is to give us ample opportunity to dialogue with you; there is no need to blackmail anybody. We are working for the interest of the citizens and residents of Abuja, and the entire Nigeria,” Wike stated.

Recall that in addition, the doctors had asked for clear timelines for completing skipping and conversion processes for all members, along with the settlement of all accumulated arrears.

They further called on the FCTA to address continuous erroneous deductions from members’ salaries and to rectify the irregular and erratic salary payment pattern.

They also demanded 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 demands include payment of wage award arrears, renovation and equipping of FCTA hospitals to 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.