Resident doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have embarked on a warning strike starting Monday, September 8, 2025, to press for improved welfare and working conditions.
The action, announced by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in the FCT, follows unresolved grievances with the Federal Government and hospital management over unpaid salaries, inadequate facilities, and poor welfare packages.
Dr. Chukwudi Okeke, President of the FCT ARD chapter, stated that the strike was a last resort after multiple failed negotiations with authorities.
“For months, we’ve engaged the government and hospital management to address critical issues like unpaid salary arrears, lack of essential medical equipment, and poor working conditions. Our demands have been ignored, leaving us no choice but to withdraw our services temporarily,” Okeke said in a press briefing in Abuja.
The warning strike, expected to last three days, will see resident doctors in major FCT hospitals, including the National Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, halt non-emergency services.
Emergency units will remain operational to ensure critical cases are attended to, but outpatient clinics and elective surgeries are expected to be significantly affected.
The strike action has raised concerns among patients and caregivers, with many expressing frustration over potential disruptions to healthcare services.
Mrs. Amina Sule, a patient at the National Hospital, lamented, “This strike will make things harder for us. I hope the government listens quickly so we don’t suffer more.”
The FCT Administration has called for calm, stating that efforts are underway to address the doctors’ demands.
A statement from the FCT Health Secretariat indicated that a meeting with ARD leadership is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, 2025, to resolve the impasse.
“We are committed to ensuring quality healthcare delivery and addressing the concerns of our medical professionals,” the statement read.
This strike comes amid broader labor unrest in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) also commencing a nationwide strike on September 8, 2025, over alleged anti-labor practices by Dangote Refinery.
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