BREAKING: Sacked health workers: FCT doctors embark on three-day strike, give Wike ultimatum

The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has announced the commencement of a three-day warning strike, starting on Tuesday, 6 May 2025.

The doctors reached the decision to embark on the strike following an emergency congress meeting held on Monday at Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja.

In an interview after the meeting, the President of the FCT ARD, Dr George Ebong, stated that the strike had become necessary as 127 health workers were dismissed by the FCT Civil Service Commission last Friday without due diligence.

He described the dismissals as inhumane and unlawful, demanding their immediate reinstatement alongside the prompt payment of their April salaries.

He further called for the immediate resignation of the chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Mr Emeka Ezeh.

Dr Ebong, speaking on behalf of the doctors, warned that if their demands were not met by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration within three days, they would embark on an indefinite strike and shut down hospitals across the nation’s capital.

“We are embarking on a three-day warning strike because most of the members were disengaged from service on Friday without due diligence. They were labelled as ghost workers, ex-employees, and absconders when, in fact, these colleagues of ours are still in the system working even until now. We are livid that the FCTA service commission will carry out such an inhuman decision without talking to the health management board, permanent secretary of health, association of resident doctors, or Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, MDCAN. It is not just doctors that are affected—nurses, pharmacists, and lab scientists, including no clinical workers are affected too.

“The managing directors of these hospitals are not aware. In fact, three MDs are affected; 127 health workers are affected. If these numbers are ghost workers, so how do these hospitals operate? The hospitals would have collapsed. What is the staff strength of FCT hospitals?

“The affected health workers’ salaries were stopped without any prior notice. The salaries for last month. This is a clear act of insensitivity and injustice to health workers.

“We demand immediate salary payment for all the affected health workers; apologies letter to the affected health workers; and the immediate resignation of the chairman of the service commission, Mr. Emeka Ezeh.

“It is a three-day warning starting from tomorrow, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 8 am, and if within the space of three days (which is Friday, May 9, 2025), our demands are not met, we will go on an indefinite strike after an appraisal,” he stated.

DAILY POST reports that the emergency congress meeting was attended by over 120 doctors, both physically and virtually.

See attached communique:

5th May, 2025
The Honourable Minister,
Federal Capital Territory,
Kapital Street,
Area 11, Garki,
FCT, Abuja.

Sir,

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENT DOCTORS, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ADMINISTRATION (ARD-FCTA) WHICH HELD BOTH PHYSICALLY AND VIRTUALLY AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF ASOKORO DISTRICT HOSPITAL ON 5TH MAY, 2025

PREAMBLE:
The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA) is an Association of Resident Doctors and Medical Officers practicing in the 14 Districts and General hospitals; including Department of Public Health under Federal Capital Territory Administration. The Association held Emergency General Meeting both physically and virtually at the Conference Room of Asokoro District Hospital on account of stoppage of April, 2025 salary of our members.

OBSERVATIONS
We observe with deep anger and utmost disappointment the arbitrary and unjust withholding of April salaries affecting 127 members of our association and other health workers, despite these staff undergoing the tedious verification process organized by the commission. This action was taken without any prior notice or due diligence, and this is completely unacceptable.
We noticed how outrageously these workers were falsely tagged as having absconded and their names removed from payment platform by the Civil Service Commission, even though hospital services have continued uninterrupted. At a time when the welfare and remuneration of health workers is already depleted, such a move is not only insensitive but outrightly provocative. Over 100 dedicated staff have now been denied their rightful earnings – a disgraceful decision that has caused untold emotional, physical, psychological, and financial hardship.
What is equally disturbing is the complete exclusion of key stakeholders from this decision-making process by the Civil Service Commission. The Medical Directors of the affected hospitals, the Director General of the Hospital Management Board, the Permanent Secretary of Health, and even the Mandate Secretary were all sidelined. This lack of consultation reveals a clear breakdown in governance and accountability.

Even more infuriating is the behavior of the Civil Service Commission. Their actions have gone beyond inefficiency – they have become a source of frustration and deliberate sabotage. The Chairman and staff of the Commission have shown blatant arrogance, rudeness, and disdain toward staff who approach them for legitimate inquiries. The utterances of the Civil Service Commission ranges from threatening words to mockery of health workers. They delay routine processes like post-Part 2 conversions, skipping, and promotions simply to assert irrelevant control and power. This kind of toxic and bureaucratic recklessness cannot be allowed to continue.

RESOLUTION:
Arising from our Emergency Meeting, and in light of the unresolved grievances and continued humiliation of our members, the following resolutions were made:

We hereby declare a 3-day warning strike, effective from 8:00am on Tuesday, 6th April 2025 to 8:00am on Friday, 9th
April 2025.

Immediate payment of withheld April salaries to all affected staffs without delay and their names added back to the payment platform.
An unreserved, written apology from the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission to all affected members, acknowledging the emotional, psychological, physical and financial harm caused.

The immediate resignation of the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, whose actions have continuously undermined staff welfare and administrative progress.

A public disclaimer from the Hospital Management Board affirming that all affected members are duly recognized, confirmed and verified staff of the Board, who had continued to discharge their duties with utmost commitment.

A peaceful protest march to the Federal Capital Territory Administration to express our discontent and demand justice.
If all the above demands are not met, the congress will reconvene and shall proceed on an indefinite strike.

We will not remain silent while our members are disrespected, underpaid, and emotionally battered. Enough is enough!

APPRECIATION:
We wish to sincerely appreciate the Honourable Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, for the remarkable strides you are making in transforming infrastructure across the Federal Capital Territory.
We are confident that under your dynamic leadership, the health sector too will soon begin to feel the positive impact of his administration.
We also express our gratitude to the Honourable Minister for the approval of the employment of 315 healthcare workers, a much-needed intervention in strengthening the health sector. However, we note with concern that this approval is yet to be implemented, and we urge that the process be expedited without further delay.
We respectfully appeal to you, to use your good office to urgently intervene and ensure a swift resolution of these issues.

Long live ARD-FCTA.
Long live NARD.
Long Live NMA
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dr. George Ebong  Dr Agbor Affiong
PresidentGeneral Secretary

Cc:
The Honourable Minister for State, FCT
The Head of Service, FCT
The Chairman, FCT Civil Service Commission,
The Mandate Secretary of Health & Environmental Services, HESS
The Permanent Secretary, Common Services, FCT
The Permanent Secretary, Health, FCT
The Ag. Director-General, HMB
The President, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)
The Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, FCT (NMA)
The Director, Clinical & Diagnostics Services, HMB
The Director, Admin, HHSS
The Director, Admin, HMB

BREAKING: Sacked health workers: FCT doctors embark on three-day strike, give Wike ultimatum