The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), is contemplating a strong response due to the failure to implement demands that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had previously approved. George Ebong, the ARD-FCTA president, confirmed this development on Monday. The doctors had called off an indefinite strike on September 19, 2025, following a promise of intervention by the Nigerian Senate Committee on Federal Territory Area Councils & Ancillary Matters. Minister Wike, while flagging off a construction project in September, publicly stated he had signed off on all the doctors’ requests. However, four weeks later, the ARD-FCTA informed BASEMEDIA that the FCT Administration has yet to act on the demands, despite the commitments from both the Minister and the Senate Committee.
The doctors plan to hold a meeting to determine their next steps concerning the non-implementation of the demands. ARD specifically noted that 28 doctors still have unpaid arrears, the Medical Residency Training Funds (MRTF) have not been disbursed, and other key requests remain unmet. Ebong confirmed that their demands have not been met, raising the prospect of another imminent strike action in the nation’s capital, which would heavily impact Abuja residents who rely on public hospitals.
The full list of the ARD-FCTA demands includes:
Immediate Demands: Payment of outstanding salary arrears for 28 doctors since 2023; immediate payment of the MRTF and full accoutrement allowance.
Intermediate Demands (within two weeks): Promotion and implementation of salary “skipping” for eligible members with a plan for arrears payment; conversion completion for post–Part II Fellows; full payment of entitlements for newly employed resident doctors; and an immediate halt to erroneous monthly salary deductions.
Long-Term Demands (within sixty days): Development of a documented process for doctor recruitment within the FCTA; a documented plan for the phased renovation of FCTA hospitals; a formal commitment and process for hazard allowance payment; implementation of the 25%/35\% CONMESS upward review with payment of all accrued arrears; payment of the approved wage award; a written agreement to implement and pay skipping arrears for new employees within three months; conversion of post–Part II Fellows within six months of passing exams; and the inclusion of hazard allowance funding in the next FCTA supplementary budget.
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