NIGERIA: Doctors Raise Alarm Over Unpaid Salaries, Poor State Of Abuja Hospitals

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has sounded the alarm over deteriorating healthcare infrastructure and welfare neglect, urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to prioritise the healthcare sector.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Dr. George Ebong, President of ARD FCTA, lamented the dire state of hospitals in the nation’s capital.

He disclosed that some doctors have gone six months without salaries, even as they continue to serve the public under challenging conditions.

Dr. Ebong criticised the focus on infrastructural projects like roads and bridges while hospitals remain neglected.

“We feel like human abandoned projects. No matter how many roads and bridges are built, hospitals should be the first point of renovation and rehabilitation,” he said.

He called on Minister Wike to visit Abuja hospitals to witness their current state firsthand, emphasising the urgent need for intervention.

“The hospitals are hallowed grounds; you cannot neglect them. Abuja hospitals can be better,” he stressed.

The ARD FCTA had previously issued a 21-day ultimatum on December 23, 2024, demanding action from the minister.

With the ultimatum nearing its expiration, the association expressed frustration at the lack of progress.

Highlighting the challenges faced by healthcare workers, Dr. Ebong said, “We’ve got doctors who haven’t been paid for six months, yet they continue to work. There’s also a severe shortage of manpower, with one doctor often doing the job of five. On top of that, many hospitals lack the equipment needed to provide adequate care.”

He further warned that the current situation is unsustainable, as it compromises both the well-being of healthcare professionals and the quality of care available to patients.

The doctors urged the FCT administration to act swiftly to address their grievances, including settling unpaid salaries, improving hospital infrastructure, and recruiting additional healthcare workers.

They emphasised that without immediate action, the healthcare system in Abuja risks further deterioration, with dire consequences for residents.

Minister Wike is yet to publicly respond to the doctors’ demands, as the ultimatum deadline approaches.