The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Administration, on Friday suspended its indefinite strike after five days of the industrial action that has crippled health services in the FCT.
The Association also said that members will return to work on Monday at 8 a.m.
The ARD-FCTA, practising in all the district and general hospitals, had embarked on the warning strike last Monday to press home their demands after months of unresolved negotiations with the FCTA.
Speaking with the Punch, the President of the association, Dr George Ebong, explained that the decision to temporarily halt the strike followed interventions from the Senate.
Abuja Times reports that the Senate Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters had appealed to members of the FCT chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to suspend their indefinite strike, assuring them that their grievances will be urgently addressed.
Dr. Ebong disclosed that none of the doctors’ demands have been met so far.
The doctors are demanding the payment of salary arrears ranging from one to six months, owed to members employed since 2023. They also want the immediate recruitment of new staff, settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and payment of arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.
“We are suspending the strike to begin work at 8 a.m. Monday morning.
“The Senate Committee on Federal Territory Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, chaired by David Jimkuta, intervened. Even though none of our demands have been met yet, they assured us that they will talk to the minister, and the Congress has decided to believe what the Senate has said. We also appreciate the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for his interventions.
“The Congress will reassemble to reassess the interventions within the agreed timeframe, and if nothing is done, the Congress will take the next line of action,” he said.