The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, has suspended its ongoing strike.
The association’s president, George Ebong, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday.
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Mr Ebong explained that the decision to temporarily halt the strike followed interventions from the Senate.
He, however, noted that none of the doctors’ demands have been met so far.
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“We are suspending the strike to begin work at 8 a.m. on Monday morning,” he said.
“The Senate Committee on Federal Territory Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, chaired by David Jimkuta, intervened.
“Even though none of our demands have been met yet, they assured us that they will talk to the minister, and the congress has decided to believe what the Senate said.”
He said the Congress will reassemble to reassess the interventions within the agreed timeframe, and if nothing is done, the Congress will take the next line of action.
Strike action
The doctors embarked on strike last Monday to press home their demands after months of unresolved negotiations with the FCTA.
The doctors are demanding amongst others the payment of salary arrears ranging from one to six months, owed to members employed since 2023.
They also want the immediate recruitment of new staff, settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and payment of arrears arising from the 25/35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.
In addition, they are asking for clear timelines for completing skipping and conversion processes for all members, along with the settlement of all accumulated arrears.
Others are “Immediate stoppage of all erroneous deductions and correction of irregular salary payments, immediate payment of wage award arrears, as already done for colleagues at federal and state levels, payment of 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears and immediate payment of all arrears owed to 2025 external residents.
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“Urgent renovation, equipping, and upgrading of all FCTA hospitals to globally acceptable standards.”
The ARD-FCTA is an association of doctors practising in the 14 district and general hospitals, including the Department of Public Health under the FCTA.
The five-day old strike crippled health services in the FCT, as hospitals were forced to discharge patients and suspend routine care.
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