Senate Beg FCT Doctors Make Dem Stop Strike, Promise Quick Action On Their Demands

Senate Committee for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils and Other Matters don beg the striking resident doctors for FCT make dem stop their strike now, talk say dem go waka go meet the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to solve their problem. For emergency meeting wey dem hold on Thursday with the leaders of the FCT chapter of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the committee wey Chairman Senator David Jimkuta (Taraba South), talk say the doctors’ complaints get sense and dem go quickly run talk with the people wey get power.

Jimkuta talk say: “We dey beg una, abeg make una return work and give us chance to settle the matter. I go personally carry this matter go meet the Minister tomorrow. Our people dey suffer; we must act fast.” The lawmaker talk say the strike dey do plenty damage to patients wey depend on public hospitals for Abuja. E still hail the doctors for their patriotism as dem still dey Nigeria despite the bad condition wey dey, and talk say their demand no selfish but to make Nigeria health system better. NARD FCT don start indefinite strike since last week, talk say the problem be welfare and bad infrastructure. Some of their main demand be:

• Make government pay salary arrears wey don dey since 2023
• Stop to cut their allowance without explanation
• Make sure doctors wey qualify as specialists get better pay instead of medical officer pay
• Provide basic diagnostic tools like x-ray machines and echocardiographs

The doctors led by their National President, Dr. Zenith Osundara, talk to the senators say government never keep promise wey dem make after the previous strikes, so dem no get choice again. Osundara talk say hospitals for FCT no get proper equipment, and this one dey put patients for danger and dey make work harder for medical workers. NARD talk say dem don suspend strike before to allow negotiation, but nothing really change. This one don make doctors vex and more medical people dey run comot Nigeria. Some senators come sympathize with the doctors, talk say their demand show how bad health system for Nigeria be. The Senate Committee also ask the doctors make dem give dem correct information like how many people dey affected and how much money dem never pay dem for allowance so that lawmakers fit use am to push government better. Next step, the lawmakers plan to hold joint meeting with FCT health officials to talk and find solution.