'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - Government hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have been brought to a halt following a three-day warning strike embarked upon by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FCT Administration. The industrial action, which began on Wednesday, stems from unresolved issues, including unpaid salaries, allowances, and deteriorating working conditions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, ARD FCTA President Dr. George Ebong disclosed that the strike follows the expiration of a three-week ultimatum issued last year. He lamented the neglect of doctors’ welfare and hospital infrastructure, describing the situation as a crisis of abandonment.
“The three-day strike is being implemented across all government hospitals in Abuja, from Wuse to Asokoro, Maitama, Kubwa, Zuba, Kwali, Abaji, and Nyanya. Doctors have become abandoned projects. We expected the government to address the six months of unpaid arrears, but nothing has been done,” Dr. Ebong said.
He warned that if the government fails to address their demands, the association would embark on an indefinite strike, which could cripple healthcare delivery in the nation’s capital.
“Human Abandoned Projects”
Dr. Ebong criticized the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for focusing on road projects while neglecting health institutions. He noted that hospitals in Abuja lack basic amenities such as electricity, drugs, functional medical equipment, and adequate manpower, with some facilities relying on a single doctor.
“No matter the roads and bridges being constructed, hospitals should not be neglected. They are the very first point of rehabilitation. Right now, they are in deplorable condition,” he stated.
Challenge to Wike, Akpabio
On Channels Television’s Politics Today, Dr. Ebong issued a challenge to Minister Wike, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other public officials to experience the state of government hospitals firsthand by seeking treatment there.
“I would like to see the minister use Wuse General Hospital or the Senate President visit Maitama General Hospital. Until they experience it, the system won’t be fixed,” he said.
Indefinite Strike Threat
While the current strike is a warning, Dr. Ebong cautioned that an indefinite shutdown is inevitable if their demands remain unmet. He called on Minister Wike to prioritize the payment of outstanding wages and improve the state of healthcare facilities in the FCT.
The strike has left patients stranded across major hospitals in Abuja, with no end in sight as the doctors’ congress prepares to reassess the situation at the conclusion of the three-day action.
Observers warn that unless urgent steps are taken to address the grievances of the doctors, Abuja’s healthcare system may face a prolonged crisis.
