Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have issued a stern ultimatum to Governor Nyesom Wike regarding their outstanding salary arrears, warning that they will initiate a complete shutdown of all hospitals in the region unless their demands are met promptly.
The FCT chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed its deep concern over the prolonged non-payment of salaries and allowances for medical staff. The association has given a final deadline of December 31, 2024, for the resolution of the matter. If there is no immediate intervention by the government to clear the arrears, doctors have vowed to cease all medical services in both public and private hospitals under the FCT's jurisdiction.
In a joint statement, the doctors lamented that the failure to address the salary arrears has severely impacted their ability to provide adequate care for patients. Many have been forced to work without compensation for several months, creating not only a financial strain but also a morale crisis within the medical community.
"We have exhausted all means of dialogue with the relevant authorities, and the situation has reached a boiling point," said Dr. Abdulrahman Bello, President of the FCT NMA. "Our doctors and medical professionals have worked tirelessly throughout these challenging times, and they deserve to be compensated. If the government does not address these arrears by the end of this year, we will have no choice but to shut down all hospitals and health services in the region until this issue is resolved."
The association further stated that the situation has placed a strain on the already fragile healthcare system in the country, with doctors working under difficult conditions, and patients increasingly facing delays in receiving necessary treatments.
The NMA has called on Governor Nyesom Wike and the Federal Government to prioritize the welfare of healthcare workers and urgently settle the pending payments to avert the looming crisis. The doctors have emphasized that a strike is not their preferred course of action, but they are prepared to take decisive measures to ensure that their rights are respected.