Abuja, Nigeria | September 9, 2025 — The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, on Tuesday commenced a seven-day warning strike, citing what it described as systemic failures in the health sector and neglect of their welfare demands.
The doctors announced that the industrial action was necessary to draw urgent attention to poor working conditions, shortage of manpower, unpaid allowances, and the dilapidated state of infrastructure in FCT hospitals. According to the union, these issues have not only demoralized medical professionals but also endangered patients who rely on public facilities for critical care.
Dr. Rahman Oladimeji, President of the ARD FCT, explained that several meetings with the FCT Administration and relevant authorities had failed to yield concrete solutions, leaving doctors with no alternative but to embark on the strike. He stressed that the action was a warning, giving the government room to resolve the issues before a possible indefinite strike.
During the industrial action, routine services in FCT hospitals are expected to be disrupted, though emergency and critical care cases may still be attended to. Patients across the territory have already expressed worry, as the strike adds pressure on an already strained health system.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has yet to issue an official response to the development, but health stakeholders are calling for immediate dialogue to avert further escalation.