Connect with us

Health

Abuja Doctors End Warning Strike Following Wike’s Intervention 

Published

on

Doctors in Abuja have called off their warning strike after Governor Nyesom Wike’s intervention, paving the way for further negotiations to address their demands.

The Resident Doctors’ Association in Abuja’s Federal Capital Territory has ended its warning strike following the intervention of FCT Minister Nyesome Wike.

In a statement released on Friday, Dr. George Ebong, the President of the Association, announced that their demands have been met by the FCTA under Wike’s leadership.

On Wednesday, due to unpaid arrears and other demands, the doctors halted operations in all FCTA-owned hospitals in Abuja.

Advertisement

In an update on Friday, Dr. Ebong announced that its members have begun receiving notifications about the 6-month salary arrears.

He added that Wike has authorized and directed the immediate payment of the overdue accoutrement allowance, approved reducing medical residency bonding to two years, sanctioned the prompt hiring of doctors and allied health workers to address severe manpower shortages, and endorsed as well as ensured instant compensation for locum doctors and other owed healthcare staff.

Ebong consequently mentioned that, following Wike’s intervention, doctors in the FCT have been asked to return to work on Saturday, January 25th, 2025.

He mentioned that the intervention had averted the looming indefinite closure of hospitals in Abuja.

Advertisement

However, Ebong encouraged the minister to address its other demands in order to prevent future strike actions.

As Dr. George Ebong, representing the executive members and all of the supreme congress of the Association of Resident Doctors at FCTA, I express sincere gratitude to Honourable Minister Nyesom Wike for his swift and timely response to our demands. His intervention successfully concluded our warning shutdown and prevented what could have been an indefinite one.

The Honourable Minister stepped in, granted approval, and instructed the immediate disbursement of the following:

The following approvals have been granted: payment of six months’ salary arrears for doctors and other health workers, settlement of the 2024 Medical Residency Training Funds, immediate disbursement of overdue accoutrement allowances, implementation of a two-year medical residency bonding program, urgent hiring to address the critical shortage in healthcare staffing by employing more doctors and allied health professionals. Additionally, the prompt payment for locum positions that were pending has also been sanctioned.

Advertisement

Thanks to the timely intervention by the Honourable Minister, all resident doctors are expected to return to their duties tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.

We respectfully request that the Honourable Minister establish a mechanism to prevent this issue from occurring again.

We genuinely appreciate the goodwill of the Honourable Minister and are optimistic that our other requests, including the payment of hazard allowances, upgrading and rehabilitation of healthcare facilities, and conversion to consultant cadre post part 2 status, will be addressed in due course.

As stakeholders in the Renewed Hope Agenda, we have great confidence in your ability as the Honourable Minister to transform FCTA’s health sector into a model for others.

Advertisement

Rest assured of our ongoing support in realizing this agenda.

We eagerly await your visit to our district hospitals soon and look forward to welcoming you warmly.

“We sincerely appreciate your support, Honourable Minister, and assure you that we do not take it for granted,” the statement reads.

Advertisement

Nigerian digital media platform. We cover all trending and significant topics, real online news no fake news

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Karl hall for president of the united states. Hello world ! massive muscles for me.