By Fatima Saka
The Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils and Ancillary Matters has 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.
At an emergency meeting on Thursday in Abuja, the committee chaired by Senator David Jimkuta (Taraba South) met with leaders of the striking doctors and promised to escalate the matter directly to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Senator Jimkuta urged the doctors to return to work while discussions continue, stressing that lives were at stake.
“We are pleading with you, please return to work and continue saving lives. I will personally meet with the Minister tomorrow. I am confident something concrete will come out of it. We cannot stand by while people die because doctors are on strike,” he said.
The committee commended the doctors for what it described as a selfless struggle, noting that their demands were geared toward strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system rather than personal gain.
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The FCT chapter of NARD had declared an indefinite strike last week over unresolved issues, including unpaid salary arrears from 2023, unexplained deductions from allowances, and the non-upgrade of resident doctors who have completed specialist training but are still being paid as medical officers.
To fast-track resolution, the Senate committee proposed a joint session involving the National Assembly, the FCT health administration, and representatives of the doctors to enable direct negotiations and ensure a lasting solution.
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