Striking Doctors Dare Wike, Akpabio to Seek Treatment in FCT Hospitals

Striking doctors in the FCT challenge Minister Nyesom Wike and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to experience the state of public hospitals firsthand.

Resident doctors on strike in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to seek medical treatment at government hospitals in the nation’s capital. By doing so, they hope these leaders will better understand the challenges faced by public health workers and patients.

“We can begin to mend the healthcare system in our country by ensuring that every government official uses public hospitals,” stated George Ebong during Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Wednesday.

“I want to see the minister go to Wuse General Hospital, the Senate President visit Maitama General Hospital, and the Speaker use Iyanya General Hospital. This would be a starting point for improving our healthcare system. If they don’t utilize these facilities themselves, we can’t expect real change—honestly speaking.”

On Wednesday, doctors initiated a three-day warning strike due to unpaid salaries and allowances, among other issues. This action followed the expiration of an earlier three-week ultimatum. As a result, activities at government hospitals across Abuja—including locations in Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, Kubwa, Zuba, Kwali, Abaji, Nyanya—were brought to a standstill.

Ebong, the President of the Resident Doctors in FCT, accused Wike and other government officials of neglecting health facilities and failing to prioritize workers’ welfare in Abuja.

He mentioned that while Wike has been actively engaged in repairing roads, he has neglected health institutions in the nation’s capital, leaving many in a poor condition.

That’s precisely where our concerns lie. The minister has been heavily involved in projects, such as repairing roads and similar tasks. We believe he should also prioritize addressing issues within the hospitals at this time.

“We believe we are being treated as a neglected human project. Despite efforts to repair roads and bridges, hospitals should be the foremost focus for innovation and recovery. They are sacred spaces that must not be overlooked,” he stated.

Ebong explained, “For instance, we lack electricity; sometimes it’s impossible to conduct certain tests over the weekend. We also face shortages of medication and have non-functional scan machines, not to mention insufficient staff.” He noted that in some hospitals in Abuja, only one doctor is on duty at a time.

Ebong mentioned that numerous doctors have not received their salaries for six months, even though they have been working diligently and handling the duties of four or more people.

“We only met him once, when he (Wike) first assumed the ministerial position. However, we’ve had interactions with everyone working under his leadership. We’ve also sent numerous letters to him and I’m confident that he’s aware of them,” Ebong stated.

He attributed the inefficiencies to alleged bottlenecks in the system that have hindered proper execution.

He appealed to the minister, urging them to ensure that all wages are paid. He also requested that the minister visit each hospital to assess their current state.

Ebong stated that the association would reevaluate the situation following the warning strike, and if the congress believed no progress had been made, “the congress will have no option but to initiate an indefinite shutdown.”