The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has met 90 per cent of the demands made by resident doctors in its workforce, pending full implementation of the remaining items.
The Mandate Secretary of the Health and Environment Services Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja while reacting to claims by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-FCTA) that none of their demands had been met.
The ARD-FCTA had suspended its indefinite strike on September 22 following the intervention of the Senate.
Fasawe explained that while most of the demands had already received official approval, the remaining 10 per cent would be handled directly by the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
“I want to make it categorically clear that the Honourable Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has approved 90 per cent of their demands, and this is verifiable,” she said.
“On paper, approval has been given to their requests, and I have the documents with me. The remaining 10 per cent is left for the Minister to handle. It is a systemic process, and if it appears slow, it is due to government bureaucracy. However, with renewed attention, we will follow up with the Minister to fast-track implementation.”
Fasawe appealed to the doctors to exercise patience and maintain open communication with the administration by submitting a follow-up letter outlining reasonable timelines for implementation.
She cautioned that embarking on another strike would only hurt patients and further strain the FCT’s healthcare system.
“The doctors themselves are not happy with incessant strikes. No one wants to see patients suffer or die. But strikes are not the best solution,” she said.
Fasawe acknowledged that doctors in Nigeria’s public health sector were not adequately remunerated but assured that the government was taking steps to address the issue.
According to her, the Federal Government is implementing reforms aimed at discouraging the migration of health workers abroad — popularly referred to as the “Japa” syndrome.
“Reforms in the health sector cannot be achieved overnight, but progress is being made gradually,” she added.
Fasawe also urged the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to formally write to the FCT Minister concerning its request for an access road to the association’s landed property at Mamusa North District, Sabon Lugbe.
