Abuja Doctors Give Wike Two-Week Ultimatum to Meet Demands

• The Association of Resident Doctors issued a 14-day ultimatum to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, threatening a “deadliest shutdown” of Abuja hospitals
• ARD-FCTA demands include clearing six months of unpaid salaries and immediate disbursement of the 2024 medical residency training fund

The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), has issued a 14-day ultimatum to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to address their outstanding demands or face what they describe as the “deadliest shutdown” of hospitals in Abuja.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, ARD-FCTA President, Dr. George Ebong, praised the minister’s achievements in infrastructural development but called for equal attention to the welfare of doctors struggling under severe economic hardship.

“We appreciate the minister for his infrastructural work in the FCT since assuming office,” Dr. Ebong stated. “However, while he fixes physically abandoned projects, we, the doctors, are the human abandoned projects. We believe he has the capacity to address our challenges.”

The association outlined its key demands, including:

1. Payment of Salary Arrears: Clearing six months of unpaid salaries for doctors employed in 2023.
2. Medical Residency Training Fund: Immediate disbursement of the 2024 training fund.
3. Review of Bonding Policy: Reducing the mandatory bonding period for doctors from six years to two.
4. Implementation of Skipping Allowances: Enforcing skipping and issuing relevant letters to affected members.
5. Accoutrements Allowance: Payment of the 2024 allowance for work-related gear.
6. Hazard Allowance: Settling 13 months of unpaid arrears.
7. Healthcare Workforce: Fast-tracking the employment of healthcare workers to address manpower shortages.
8. Consultant Conversion: Expediting the process of converting ARD-FCTA Post 2 members to consultant status.

Dr. Ebong emphasized the urgency of these demands, warning of a potential collapse of Abuja’s healthcare system if left unaddressed.

“This injustice is alien to the FCT,” he said. “If allowed to persist, the nation’s health sector will collapse. We aim to prevent the deadliest shutdown that could result in loss of lives.”

He added that an earlier 21-day ultimatum issued during their Annual General Meeting has now been reduced to 14 days.

The doctors urged Minister Wike to act swiftly to prevent the impending shutdown and ensure that doctors can continue delivering quality healthcare to the people of the Federal Capital Territory.