The ongoing warning strike by resident doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will not be suspended unless the federal government issues a signed and written commitment to address their demands, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) has declared.
In an interview with newsmen on Thursday, ARD-FCT President George Ebong said doctors have lost trust in verbal assurances that, according to him, have repeatedly been broken.
“In the past, we listened to them without anything in writing. We believed their promises, but nothing was ever done,” he said. “This time, everything must be documented, signed by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike and attached to a clear timeline”.
Ebong stressed that even demands requiring no financial outlay—such as long-delayed promotions and staff conversions, have been ignored.
The ARD-FCT began a seven-day warning strike on Monday, citing government inaction over long-standing grievances.
Among their key concerns are manpower shortages, poor welfare, unpaid salaries, unexplained deductions, the psychological toll of excessive work hours and the absence of new recruitment in FCT hospitals since 2011.
The strike is due to end on 15 September, after which the doctors said they would review their action depending on the government’s response.
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