The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has called off its warning strike after the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesome Wike.
The President of the Association, Dr. George Ebong, in a statement on Friday, said the FCTA under Wike has met their demands.
On Wednesday, the doctors grounded all FCTA-owned hospitals in Abuja over unpaid arrears and other demands.
However, in an update on Friday, Dr Ebong revealed that its members have started receiving alerts of the 6-month salary arrears.
He also said Wike has approved and ordered immediate payment of the accoutrement allowance that was owed; approval of the medical residency bonding to 2 years; approval of the immediate employment of doctors and allied health workers to cushion the severe shortage of manpower; and approval and immediate payment of locum doctors and other health workers that were owed.
Ebong therefore noted that with the intervention by Wike, doctors in the FCT are requested to resume work on Saturday, 25 January 2025.
Ebong, however, urged the minister to meet other of its demands to avert future strike action.
“On behalf of the executive members and the entire supreme congress of the Association of the Resident Doctors, FCTA, I, Dr. George Ebong, deeply appreciate the Honourable Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his prompt and timely intervention in meeting our demands, thereby ending our warning shutdown and averting a looming timeless shutdown.
“The Honourable Minister intervened, approved, and ordered the immediate payment of the following:
The six months of arrears of the salaries owed to doctors and other health workers; the Medical Residency Training Funds (2024) that were owed; Approval of the immediate payment of the accoutrement allowance that was owed; Approval of the medical residency bonding to 2 years; Approval of the immediate employment of doctors and allied health workers to cushion the severe shortage of manpower; Approval and immediate payment of locum doctors and other health workers that were owed.
(Channels TV)
