FCTA Resident Doctors Acknowledge Partial Payment but Vow to Continue Indefinite Strike

The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), has confirmed the partial payment of salary arrears and the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) by the FCT Administration but insists that its ongoing indefinite strike will continue until all outstanding demands are fully met.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its President, Dr. George Ebong, the association described the payments as a “welcome step” toward meeting their demands but noted that several doctors were still excluded from the recent disbursement.

According to the statement, 28 doctors who had been owed salary arrears ranging from one month to a year were paid two nights ago, while salaries for October were also released on Tuesday.

However, the association disclosed that the MRTF payment covered only 103 out of 150 doctors, leaving 47 doctors yet to receive their entitlements.

The ARD-FCTA, which represents doctors working in the 14 district and general hospitals under the FCTA, began its strike on Saturday, in line with the directive of its national body, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The strike aims to press for improved welfare, fair remuneration, and better working conditions.

Providing details of their demands, the doctors urged the government to immediately pay the outstanding MRTF to the remaining 47 doctors, settle the salary arrears of external resident doctors owed between six to seven months, and address longstanding issues such as promotion arrears, post-Part 2 conversion arrears, and the implementation of the 25–35% adjustment under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

They also demanded payment of 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears dating back to 2021, implementation of the wage award, and improvement of working conditions across FCTA hospitals.

While expressing appreciation to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for initiating steps to meet their demands, the doctors maintained that their strike would not be suspended until all issues were resolved.

“Our strike is not meant to sabotage the system but to demand fairness and respect for the sacrifices we make daily,” the statement read. “The government should not always wait for strikes before responding to workers’ grievances. We appreciate the ongoing dialogue with the FCTA and National Assembly, but the strike continues until all outstanding demands are addressed.”