The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD FCTA) has commenced a three-day warning strike over unpaid salaries, allowances, and welfare.
George Ebong, president of ARD FCTA, announced the strike during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ebong decried the neglect of hospitals and doctors’ welfare in the nation’s capital, adding that the industrial action became necessary after a three-week ultimatum issued last year elapsed.
“The three-day strike is being implemented across all government hospitals in Abuja. From Wuse to Asokoro, Maitama, Kubwa, Zuba, Kwali, Abaji, Nyanya, and all of our hospitals in Abuja,” he said.
“We gave the government a three-week ultimatum to meet our demands, and after that, we met with them and dialogued on several occasions.
“They pleaded for two weeks, but after that elapsed, nothing has been done. Not even the minimum thing. We expected them to pay for the 6 months of unpaid arrears to doctors.”
Speaking about the strike on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the association’s president challenged Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to use government hospitals in the nation’s capital.
“If we are ready to fix the healthcare system in this country, I would think that every government official must use the government hospitals. Let’s start with that,” Ebong said.
“I would like to see the minister use Wuse General Hospital. I would like to see the senate president use Maitama General Hospital. I would like to see the speaker use Nyanya General Hospital. Then, we can start to fix the system.
“If they don’t use it, then we can’t fix it. I’m sorry but that’s the truth.”
He said Wike has been busy fixing roads while abandoning health institutions in the city — with many in deplorable conditions.
“That’s just where we have our concerns. The minister has been very busy with projects, fixing roads, and all of that. We feel that he should also focus on the hospitals right now,” he added.
“We feel that we are the abandoned project. No matter the things he does by fixing roads and bridges, the hospitals are the very first point of innovation and rehabilitation. They are hallowed grounds. He cannot neglect them.
“For example, we don’t have electricity, sometimes you can’t run some tests over the weekend, we don’t have drugs, we don’t have scan machines working, and we don’t have enough manpower.
“I urge the minister to please try to ensure that all the wages are paid. I urge the minister to please visit all the ministers and see the state in which the hospitals are at the moment.”