The Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils and Ancillary Matters has appealed to members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), FCT chapter, to suspend their ongoing strike and return to work.
At an emergency meeting on Thursday, the committee, led by its chairman, Senator David Jimkuta (Taraba South), met with the leadership of the striking doctors and pledged to urgently engage the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to resolve the matter.
Senator Jimkuta acknowledged the devastating impact of the strike on healthcare delivery across Abuja, stressing that lives are at risk.
“We are pleading with you, please return to work and continue saving lives. I will personally meet with the Minister tomorrow. I am confident that something concrete will come out of it. We cannot stand by while people die because doctors are on strike,” he said.
The committee assured doctors that their concerns were receiving serious attention and promised to escalate the matter directly to the FCT Minister.
Doctors’ Grievances
The FCT chapter of NARD had declared an indefinite strike last week over:
- Unpaid salary arrears dating back to 2023.
- Unexplained deductions from allowances.
- Failure to upgrade qualified resident doctors who have completed specialist training but are still paid as medical officers.
The doctors stressed that their demands are aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s failing healthcare system, not just personal benefits.
Senate Calls for Broader Talks
To resolve the crisis, the committee also proposed a joint session involving the National Assembly, the FCT health administration, and NARD representatives to negotiate directly and find a lasting solution.
Senator Jimkuta commended the doctors for their resilience and described the strike as a “selfless fight” to secure better healthcare for Nigerians.
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