Resident doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday commenced an indefinite strike over what they described as the government’s failure to address their long-standing demands.
The Association of Resident Doctors, FCTA (ARD-FCTA), announced the decision in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Agbor Affiong, following an Emergency General Meeting held on Sunday, 14th September 2025.
“The Association of Resident Doctors, FCTA, at its Emergency General Meeting held on 14th September 2025, resolved to embark on an indefinite strike action with effect from 8:00 am, Monday, 15th September 2025,” the statement read.
According to the doctors, the action follows the management’s failure to address any of their “legitimate demands,” despite a one-week warning strike earlier in the month.
The association said the strike would continue “until government and management show genuine commitment to the welfare of doctors and the health of FCT residents.”
Last week, ARD-FCTA embarked on a seven-day warning strike to press home demands for improved working conditions and payment of outstanding entitlements. The doctors also cited acute manpower shortages and poor welfare as major concerns.
Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, last Tuesday, ARD-FCTA Chairman, Dr. George Ebong, warned that unless meaningful dialogue was initiated, the union would have no choice but to proceed with an indefinite strike.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Dr. Ebong lamented the shortage of medical personnel across the FCT’s 14 districts and general hospitals, noting that one doctor is often forced to handle dozens of patients daily.
“We’re going to need as many as 200 or thereabouts [doctors]. We don’t even have anything close to that,” he said. “We have a doctor seeing more than 30 patients, 40 patients. We have a doctor doing up to 10 caesarean sections. We have doctors who are on antidepressants. We have doctors who are on anti-hypertensives.”
The strike is expected to significantly disrupt healthcare services across the territory, with residents left to grapple with the consequences until a resolution is reached.
