The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), has issued a stern warning to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, threatening to embark on the “deadliest shutdown” of hospitals in the nation’s capital if their outstanding demands are not addressed within 14 days.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the Association’s President, Dr. George Ebong, acknowledged Wike’s commendable efforts in infrastructural development but called for equal attention to the well-being of healthcare professionals.
Dr. Ebong highlighted the economic hardship faced by doctors, which he said is pushing them to the brink of extinction.
He urged the minister to prioritize human development alongside infrastructure, emphasizing that the welfare of medical personnel is critical for the effective delivery of healthcare services.
The ultimatum comes as the association seeks action on unresolved issues affecting its members, warning that failure to address their grievances will lead to an unprecedented shutdown of healthcare services in the Federal Capital Territory.
He said: “Firstly, we have to appreciate the minister for his infrastructural development in the FCT since his emergence. We want him to know that Doctors is an abandoned project. While he fixes the infrastructural abandoned project, we are the human abandoned projects. We believe the minister can deal with the challenge.
“We want the minister to clear six months of salary arrears owed to our members employed in 2023.
“The minister should with urgency clear the payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund of 2024.
“Also, we want the minister to review the bonding policy to two years instead of 6 years.
“Other demands are we want the minister to enforce the implementation of skipping and issuance of skipping letters to our members employed in 2023, immediate payment of accoutrements allowance for 2024, payment of outgoing 13 months hazard allowance arrears, and the FCTA management should fast-track conversion of ARD FCTA Post 2 members to consultants and expedite the process of employment of health care workers to buffer the manpower shortage in the Nation’s capital hospitals.
“This injustice is alien to FCT; if this is allowed to continue, the nation’s health sector will collapse. We want the minister to solve the problems so doctors can practice to the best of their ability.
“We earlier gave a 21-day ultimatum during our Annual General Meeting, leaving 14 days. We don’t want the deadliest shutdown that may lead to loss of lives; it is important that the minister listen and act on demand without delays.”
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