FCT Doctors Declare Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Arrears, Decaying Hospitals

By Olatunbosun Obafemi

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has announced an indefinite strike, beginning Monday, September 15, 2025, following what it described as government’s persistent neglect of its members and the crumbling state of public hospitals in Abuja.

In a communiqué issued after an emergency general meeting on Sunday, the doctors expressed frustration that none of their longstanding demands had been addressed, despite repeated engagements and a recently concluded seven-day warning strike.

According to the association, many of its members have been owed between one and six months’ salary arrears since 2023, while others remain unpaid for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund. The doctors also decried delays in promotions dating back to 2023, unpaid arrears from the 25/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review, and non-payment of wage award arrears and hazard allowances.

The communiqué further highlighted worsening manpower shortages, which it said have left doctors overstretched and exposed to stress-related illnesses and even deaths. The doctors warned that both medical staff and patients are at risk due to what they called the administration’s “chronic neglect” of the healthcare system.

Other grievances include irregular salary payments, unexplained deductions, stagnation of fellows denied promotion to consultant cadre for over five years, and non-payment of accoutrement allowances. Beyond staff welfare, the doctors painted a grim picture of FCTA hospitals, describing them as “shadows of decay” lacking equipment, consumables, and basic functionality.

After what the association described as one of its “most passionate and historic deliberations,” the congress resolved to down tools until concrete steps are taken. Among their demands are immediate settlement of salary arrears, urgent recruitment of new doctors before the end of 2025, release of promotion timelines, and upgrading of hospitals to acceptable global standards.

The doctors insisted that only genuine commitment from government and management can halt the strike, warning that the health of patients in the capital is at stake.

Below is the full communique:

COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENT DOCTORS, FCTA, ISSUED AFTER

THE EMERGENCY GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 14TH SEPTEMBER 2025

OBSERVATIONS

After reassessing the demands earlier presented to management, Congress noted with deep disappointment that none of our demands have been addressed.

This once again confirms our fears of the chronic neglect of our healthcare system affecting the effectiveness of the medical doctors in order to carry out care of the highest standard.

Following exhaustive deliberations at the close of the 7-day warning strike, Congress made the

Following observations:

1. Continued non-payment of salary arrears (ranging from 1 to 6 months) owed to members

employed since 2023, despite repeated engagements with management.

2. Zero effort towards the recruitment of new doctors, despite the obvious manpower crisis that has subjected our members to unbearable physical, emotional, and psychological strain – resulting in avoidable stress-related deaths. Both doctors’ and patients’ lives remain endangered.
3. Non-payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), leaving members

indebted while struggling to meet mandatory training obligations.

4. Non-payment of arrears from the 25/35% CONMESS upward review, despite the Federal

The government having commenced payment.

5. Absence of clear and documented timelines for skipping and conversion of members, with

arrears yet unpaid.

6. Persistent and unexplained deductions alongside irregular salary payments, which are

demoralising and insulting to healthcare workers.

7. Delays in promotion exercises since 2023, thereby denying members their rightful career

progression and financial entitlements.

8. Non-payment of the 2025 accoutrement allowance, a paltry N8,000 monthly entitlement that

should not require agitation.

9. Stagnation of newly qualified Fellows who remain denied advancement to the Consultant

cadre, some for over five years, despite repeated engagements with management.

10. Non-payment of wage award arrears, with no communication on when this will be addressed.
11. Non-payment of 13 months Hazard allowance arrears, further proof of deliberate disregard

for the safety and welfare of doctors.

12. The deplorable state of FCTA hospitals, which are now shadows of decay rather than centres of excellence, lacking equipment, consumables, and basic functionality.

RESOLUTIONS

After the most passionate and historic deliberations in ARD-FCTA, Congress unanimously resolved as follows:

1. Congress shall embark on an indefinite strike action commencing at 8:00am, Monday, 15th.

September 2025, until government and management demonstrate genuine commitment to

making health in the FCT a priority.

2. Immediate payment of all outstanding salary arrears to members employed since 2023.
3. Immediate commencement of recruitment of new doctors, with written, time-bound

commitments to conclude before the end of 2025. This is of utmost urgency.

4. Immediate payment of the 2025 MRTF for doctors’ medical training.
5. Immediate stoppage of all erroneous deductions and correction of irregular salary payments
6. Documented timelines for skipping and conversion to be fully concluded within one (1) month.
7. Signing of an MOU mandating skipping of members within three (3) months of employment.

Conversion of post-Part II Fellows to Consultant cadre within six (6) months of passing-

9. Release of promotion timelines and full payment of arrears within one (1)
10. Immediate payment of wage award arrears, as already done for colleagues at federal and state

levels.

11. Immediate payment of arrears from the 25/35 per cent CONMESS review
12. Urgent renovation, equipping, and upgrading of all FCTA hospitals to globally acceptablevstandards.
13. Immediate payment of 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears.
14. Immediate payment of all arrears owed to 2025 external residents.

We do hope that the management will do the urgent needful to meet all of our demands for the sake of our patients and ourselves.