FCT doctors issue Wike ultimatum, threaten “deadliest shutdown”

The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration, has issued a stark warning to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

According to Daily Trust, they are threatening the “deadliest shutdown” of hospitals in 14 days if their pressing demands remain unresolved.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, ARD-FCTA President, Dr. George Ebong, commended the minister’s strides in “infrastructural development” but emphasised that urgent attention must be given to the welfare of doctors, describing them as “on the verge of extinction” due to escalating economic hardship.

“We appreciate the minister for his infrastructural development in the FCT since his emergence. But doctors are an abandoned project.

“While he fixes infrastructural abandoned projects, we are the human abandoned projects. We believe the minister can deal with the challenge,” Ebong declared.

“The association’s demands are clear and urgent: Immediate clearance of six months’ salary arrears owed to members employed in 2023. Others include:

• Urgent payment of the 2024 Medical Residency Training Fund.
• Review of the bonding policy, reducing it from six years to two.
• Implementation of skipping allowances for 2023 intakes and issuance of the necessary letters.
• Payment of 2024 accoutrements allowances without delay.
• Clearing 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears.
• Fast-tracking the conversion of ARD Post 2 members to consultants.
• Expedited employment of healthcare workers to address crippling manpower shortages.

“This injustice is alien to the FCT; if allowed to persist, the nation’s health sector will collapse,” Ebong warned, urging Wike to act swiftly to prevent unnecessary loss of lives.

The doctors initially issued a 21-day ultimatum during their Annual General Meeting, which now leaves 14 days for action.

“We do not want the deadliest shutdown, but if no action is taken, we will have no choice. The health of this nation is at stake, and the minister must act without delay,” Ebong concluded.

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