Healthcare delivery in Abuja has been thrown into disarray as resident doctors under the Federal Capital Territory Administration embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday, September 15, 2025. The decision, announced in a communique signed by the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, FCT chapter (ARD-FCT), Dr. George Ebong, and its General Secretary, Dr. Agbor Affiong, follows the expiration of a seven-day warning strike which ended on Sunday.
The doctors said the strike was unavoidable after months of unresolved negotiations with the FCTA. Despite repeated engagements, they lamented that none of their demands had been addressed, leaving them with no option but to withdraw their services. In their words, the ongoing neglect of the healthcare system has left doctors unable to provide care at the standard patients deserve.
At the core of their grievances are unpaid salary arrears ranging from one to six months for doctors employed since 2023. They are also demanding the immediate recruitment of additional medical staff, settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and full payment of arrears resulting from the 25–35 per cent salary adjustment under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure. The association further decried irregular salary payments, erroneous deductions, and the failure to provide clear timelines for promotions, conversions, and payment of outstanding arrears.
Other demands include the conversion of post-Part II Fellows to Consultant status within six months of qualification, payment of wage award arrears and outstanding hazard allowances, as well as the renovation and proper equipping of FCTA hospitals to meet global standards. Newly recruited external residents, many of whom are still owed three to four months’ pay, were also highlighted as part of the outstanding concerns.
The indefinite strike, which officially commenced at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, was unanimously agreed upon after what the association described as historic deliberations at its emergency congress meeting. According to ARD-FCT, the industrial action will continue until government authorities show genuine commitment to addressing the welfare of doctors and the health needs of patients in the Federal Capital Territory.
As the strike takes effect, thousands of patients across Abuja’s 14 district and general hospitals, as well as public health facilities, are left uncertain about access to care. For many, the fear is not only about the disruption of medical services but also about the deepening cracks in a system already struggling to meet the demands of its people.
In its communique, the doctors expressed hope that the government would act swiftly to resolve the crisis, stressing that their decision is not just about personal welfare but about the survival of the healthcare system itself. “We sincerely hope management will urgently do the needful, for the sake of our patients and for the future of healthcare in the FCT,” the statement concluded.