Medical services at hospitals owned by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in Abuja have been severely disrupted due to an ongoing strike by Consultant-Doctors who are members of the Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria (MDCAN).
Patients seeking medical attention have been turned away or asked to return on specific dates because there are currently no doctors available to attend to them, except in emergency cases. Dr. Roland Aigbovo, the former Chairman of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) FCT Chapter, stated, “We can’t work when Consultants are on strike except for emergencies.”
The primary reason behind the doctors’ strike appears to be their dissatisfaction with the issuance of retirement letters to untenured doctors on Grade Level (GL) 17. This action may have been taken in compliance with a memo from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, which recommends that Directors who have spent eight years should proceed on immediate retirement.
The Medical and Dental Consultants had previously written a letter to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, informing him of their intentions and requesting the immediate withdrawal of the retirement letters sent to untenured doctors on GL 17. However, there has been no official response to their request.
When contacted, Dr. Emmanuel Musa, the Chairman of MDCAN FCTA, declined to provide further comments on the strike.
On a national level, the National President of MDCAN, Dr. Victor Makanjuola, confirmed awareness of the strike and stated that the FCT Chapter of the Association had secured the necessary permission and support from the national body before embarking on the strike.
Dr. Makanjuola further noted that the 21-day ultimatum issued by the national body to the Federal Government regarding several issues will expire on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023. The national body of MDCAN will discuss the matter during its bi-annual meeting on the same day and make decisions regarding the next steps to be taken.
