The Association of Resident Doctors of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA) has announced the commencement of an indefinite strike, beginning from 12 midnight on Saturday, November 1, 2025, over unresolved welfare and administrative issues affecting its members
The declaration was contained in a formal letter dated October 30, 2025, and addressed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The letter, jointly signed by the association’s President, Dr. George Ebong, and General Secretary, Dr. Agbor Affiong, stated that the decision followed several failed attempts by the doctors to engage the FCTA authorities on critical matters bordering on members’ welfare, working conditions, and outstanding entitlements.
According to the association, the indefinite strike became the last resort after exhausting all available avenues for dialogue and appeal to the administration without tangible results.
ARD-FCTA explained that its members have endured months of hardship and neglect, as several welfare-related issues have remained unresolved despite repeated assurances from the government.
Among the grievances listed by the doctors are the non-payment of salary arrears to newly employed doctors since 2023, irregularities in the payment of existing salaries, non-disbursement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), and the continued delay in the payment of hazard allowances.
The association also expressed concern over poor working conditions in FCTA-owned hospitals, noting that inadequate facilities, equipment shortages, and overstretched manpower have made service delivery increasingly difficult.
Dr. Ebong, in the letter, stressed that the association had previously issued warnings and communicated deadlines to the FCT administration, urging them to address these long-standing issues.
However, the authorities allegedly failed to act, compelling the doctors to proceed with the strike to demand fair treatment and improved working conditions.
“The decision to embark on this indefinite strike was not made lightly. We have shown restraint and given ample time for dialogue, but our legitimate concerns have been consistently ignored.
We can no longer continue to work under these unfavourable conditions that threaten the morale, safety, and productivity of our members,” the statement read in part.
The strike, which began in the early hours of Saturday, is expected to significantly disrupt medical services across the Federal Capital Territory, as resident doctors constitute the majority of the workforce in FCTA hospitals.
Already, major health facilities, including the Asokoro District Hospital, Maitama District Hospital, Wuse General Hospital, and Nyanya General Hospital, have scaled down operations.
Reports indicate that elective surgeries and outpatient consultations have been suspended, while only skeletal services are being provided in emergency units by consultants and a few non-striking staff.
The development has sparked concerns among residents, particularly patients in need of urgent medical care. Several hospital administrators have confirmed that they are working to manage the situation by reassigning available consultants and contract medical staff to critical departments to cushion the impact of the strike.
Health stakeholders and civil society groups have called for urgent intervention by the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Federal Ministry of Health to engage the striking doctors in meaningful dialogue and prevent further deterioration of healthcare services in the capital city.
In reaction to the situation, some senior health officials within the FCTA have reportedly opened preliminary talks with the ARD-FCTA leadership in a bid to find common ground.
However, as of Saturday afternoon, no official agreement had been reached, and the strike remained fully in force.
The resident doctors reiterated their readiness to return to work once the government demonstrates a sincere commitment to addressing their demands, including the immediate payment of outstanding entitlements, release of the MRTF, and implementation of improved welfare packages.
They emphasized that the action was not politically motivated but driven by the need to safeguard the wellbeing of doctors and ensure the sustainability of quality healthcare services in the territory.
As the strike enters its first day, patients and health workers alike are anxiously awaiting the outcome of negotiations between the ARD-FCTA and the government, hoping for a quick resolution to restore normalcy to the healthcare system in the Federal Capital Territory.
