The Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils and Ancillary Matters has urged resident doctors in Abuja to suspend their ongoing strike, assuring that their grievances will be addressed through direct engagement with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
At an emergency meeting on Thursday, the committee, led by its Chairman, Senator David Jimkuta (Taraba South), met with the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), FCT chapter. The lawmakers pleaded with the doctors to return to duty in the interest of saving lives while negotiations continue.
“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,” Senator Jimkuta assured.
The senator commended the resident doctors for what he described as a selfless struggle aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ailing healthcare system, rather than fighting for selfish gains.
The FCT chapter of NARD had last week embarked on an indefinite strike, citing unpaid salary arrears dating back to 2023, unexplained deductions from allowances, and the failure of the FCT administration to upgrade qualified resident doctors who have completed specialist training but are still paid as medical officers.
Acknowledging the devastating impact of the strike on healthcare delivery in the capital city, the Senate committee promised to escalate the doctors’ demands directly to the FCT Minister. It also proposed a joint negotiation session involving the National Assembly, the FCT health administration, and the striking doctors in order to arrive at a lasting solution.