Striking resident doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of prioritizing road projects over the welfare of healthcare workers and the deplorable state of government hospitals in Abuja.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) FCTA, Dr. George Ebong, criticized Wike’s focus on infrastructure projects while neglecting the dire state of health institutions.
“The minister has been very busy with projects, fixing roads, and all of that. But we feel he should also focus on hospitals right now,” Dr. Ebong said. “Hospitals are the first point of innovation and rehabilitation. They are hallowed ground; he cannot neglect them.”
The doctors began a three-day warning strike on Wednesday, citing unpaid salaries, allowances, and insufficient resources to deliver quality healthcare. The strike has disrupted services in government hospitals across the FCT, including those in Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, Kubwa, Zuba, Kwali, Abaji, and Nyanya.
Dr. Ebong lamented the poor conditions under which doctors are forced to work, including power outages, a lack of essential drugs, and inadequate staffing. “Sometimes there’s only one doctor manning entire hospitals in Abuja,” he said.
He also revealed that many doctors have gone without pay for six months despite shouldering heavy workloads. “Doctors are working hard and handling responsibilities meant for four or more people, yet they are not being paid,” he said.
Dr. Ebong called on Wike to address their grievances urgently. “I urge the minister to ensure that all wages are paid. He should also visit the hospitals and see the terrible state they are in,” he added.
The doctors’ strike follows a three-week ultimatum issued earlier, which expired without the government meeting their demands. The strike has drawn attention to the challenges faced by the healthcare sector in the FCT, with warnings that an indefinite strike could follow if their concerns remain unaddressed.
