The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), has embarked on an indefinite strike after accusing the government of neglecting their welfare and the health sector in the nation’s capital. The strike, which commenced on Monday, September 15, 2025, follows the expiration of a seven-day warning strike earlier this month.
Announcing the action at a press conference in Abuja, ARD-FCTA President, Dr. George Ebong, said the decision was reached during a congress of members held on Sunday. He stressed that the strike was not directed at the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, or any individual, but was a protest against what he described as a “failed health system” in the territory.
The doctors listed multiple grievances, including the non-payment of salaries for 26 members despite seven months of dialogue, persistent salary deductions, irregular promotions since 2023, and the non-payment of hazard allowances. They also decried the poor state of hospitals under the FCTA, some of which reportedly lack basic diagnostic equipment such as X-ray machines.
In a communiqué issued after its emergency meeting, ARD-FCTA highlighted 12 key issues underpinning the strike. These include non-payment of arrears ranging from one to six months for doctors employed since 2023, failure to recruit new doctors despite manpower shortages, and the non-payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF). Others are the non-release of arrears from the 25–35 per cent CONMESS upward review, delays in career progression, and the non-payment of wage award arrears and hazard allowances.
The doctors also raised concerns about the stagnation of newly qualified Fellows who have been denied promotion to Consultant cadre for over five years. They further lamented the deplorable condition of FCTA hospitals, which they said had become “shadows of decay rather than centres of excellence,” lacking essential consumables and equipment to deliver quality healthcare.
The communiqué demanded immediate government action, including the payment of all outstanding salaries and arrears, commencement of recruitment of new doctors before the end of 2025, release of promotion timelines, and urgent renovation and upgrading of FCTA hospitals. The doctors insisted that an enforceable memorandum of understanding be signed to guarantee timelines for promotions, conversions, and other entitlements.
According to the ARD-FCTA, the strike will remain in force until the government demonstrates “genuine commitment” to addressing the long-standing demands of resident doctors in the FCT. The union warned that failure to act promptly would further endanger the lives of both doctors and patients in the capital city.
The indefinite strike is expected to worsen the already strained healthcare system in Abuja, where residents often complain of inadequate services. ARD-FCTA has urged the government to prioritise health, saying the ongoing neglect not only undermines doctors’ welfare but also threatens the safety and wellbeing of patients who rely on public hospitals.
