RESIDENT doctors in Abuja have issued a two-week ultimatum to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, demanding the fulfillment of their requests and warning of a potential shutdown of hospitals if their demands are not met.
In a statement today, the President of the FCTA Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), George Ebong, lauded Wike’s efforts to improve infrastructure in Abuja but criticized the neglect of doctors, referring to them as “human abandoned projects.”
He said, “While he fixes infrastructural abandoned projects, we remain neglected.”
Ebong described the treatment of doctors as an “injustice alien to the FCT” and cautioned that it could lead to the collapse of the nation’s healthcare system.
“We want the minister to address these issues so that doctors can perform their duties effectively. Last week, during our Annual General Meeting, we issued a 21-day ultimatum, which has now been reduced to 14 days,” Ebong said.
He stressed the urgency of their demands to avoid a shutdown, which he warned could result in loss of lives, urging the minister to act swiftly.
The doctors’ demands include the immediate payment of six months’ salary arrears owed to ARD members hired in 2023, prompt disbursement of the 2024 Medical Residency Training Fund, and a reduction of the bonding policy from six years to two years.
Other requests include the implementation of skipping and issuance of skipping letters for 2023 recruits, immediate payment of the 2024 accouterments allowance, settlement of 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears, conversion of ARD FCTA post two members to consultants, and accelerated recruitment of healthcare workers to address staff shortages in Abuja hospitals.
Ebong expressed confidence in the minister’s ability to resolve these challenges promptly.
