FCT resident doctors give Wike two weeks to meet demands

Resident doctors in Abuja, the nation’s capital, have given Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), two weeks to meet their demands.

Speaking with journalists on Monday, George Ebong, president of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) FCT chapter, said while the minister is fixing abandoned infrastructure in the FCT, the doctors have now become “abandoned projects”.

“We want the minister to solve the problems so doctors can practice to the best of their ability,” Ebong said.

“We earlier gave a 21-day ultimatum last week during our annual general meeting, leaving 14 days.

“We don’t want the deadliest shutdown that may lead to loss of lives; it is important that the minister listen and act on demand without delays.”

The ARD president said the association wants the minister to clear the six months of salary arrears being owed to members who were employed in 2023.

“The minister should with urgency clear the payment of the medical residency training fund of 2024,” he said.

“Also, we want the minister to review the bonding policy to two years instead of six years.

“Other demands are that we want the minister to enforce the implementation of skipping and issuance of skipping letters to our members employed in 2023, immediate payment of accoutrements allowance for 2024, payment of outgoing 13 months hazard allowance arrears, and the FCTA management should fast-track conversion of ARD FCTA post two members to consultants and expedite the process of employment of health care workers to buffer the manpower shortage in the nation’s capital hospitals.”