NARD Strike: FCT resident doctors declare separate indefinite action over unmet demands

The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA) has declared a separate indefinite strike, insisting it will continue its action even if the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) suspends its ongoing nationwide strike.

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The decision followed an emergency congress meeting of ARD-FCTA held on Wednesday, 29 October. The resolution was contained in a statement signed by the association’s president, George Ebong, on Friday.

According to the statement, the strike will begin at midnight on Saturday, 1 November, the same day the nationwide NARD action takes effect.

“The Congress unanimously voted to fully join the NARD-declared indefinite strike in its entirety,” Mr Ebong said.

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“However, even if NARD suspends or calls off its strike, ARD-FCTA will continue with its own indefinite strike action until all demands peculiar to our centre have been satisfactorily met.”

With both NARD and ARD-FCTA now on indefinite strike, public hospitals nationwide are expected to experience widespread service disruptions starting Saturday.

Unresolved local demands

The FCT resident doctors listed several unresolved issues, including unpaid salaries since 2023, delayed promotions, and the lack of recruitment to fill vacant positions.

The doctors are also demanding the immediate commencement of recruitment of new doctors, with a time-bound commitment to conclude the process before the end of 2025.

Other key demands include payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), stoppage of erroneous salary deductions, and payment of wage award arrears.

ARD-FCTA also called for the full implementation of the 25 and 35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review, the payment of 13 months hazard allowance arrears, and the release of outstanding promotion benefits.

It further urged the FCTA to equip and upgrade its hospitals to “globally acceptable standards.”

National strike

As previously reported by PREMIUM TIMES, NARD declared an indefinite strike following what it described as the government’s failure to address long-standing welfare and working condition concerns.

The association said the federal government has shown “no political will” to meet its commitments despite repeated engagements and extensions of strike ultimatums.

NARD’s grievances include non-payment of salary arrears, poor working conditions, manpower shortages, and failure to review doctors’ salaries for over 16 years.

The association also cited unpaid promotion arrears since 2021, non-payment of specialist allowances, and the continued exclusion of house officers from the civil service scheme, which denies them welfare and pension benefits.

According to NARD President Muhammad Suleiman, doctors and other health workers across the country are owed between N35 billion and N38 billion in accumulated allowances, with some institutions yet to pay salaries dating back several months.

Unpaid salaries in teaching hospitals

NARD also listed several health institutions owing salaries and allowances. These include the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, where doctors are owed 18 months’ arrears, and the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where members are owed between four and eight months’ salaries, including allowances.

At the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, it requested the immediate payment of salaries owed to 83 doctors employed under the 2022 waiver, the March 2024 salary of 40 doctors, and arrears ranging from seven to 14 months.

It highlighted that similar issues persist at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where some doctors are yet to be captured on the payroll.

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Mr Suleiman appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the dispute and ensure the long-standing issues are resolved once and for all.

“Mr President, they have been paying themselves their salaries and allowances. It is we who are in the field working that they are not paying. I hope you will listen to this passionate appeal and use your goodwill. You are the father of the nation. Come into this matter, weigh in on it, and solve it for us,” he said.