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FCTA Resident Doctors Acknowledge Partial Implementation of Demands, Vow to Continue Indefinite Strike

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The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), has confirmed that some of its outstanding salary arrears and allowances have been paid.

Despite this progress, the doctors have vowed to continue their ongoing indefinite strike in solidarity with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) until all their specific demands are fully met.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, ARD-FCTA President, Dr. George Ebong, said that 28 doctors who had been owed salary arrears ranging from one month to one year were paid two nights ago. He added that while some members received their Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), 47 of the 150 doctors entitled to the allowance are yet to be paid.

Dr. Ebong commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for initiating the implementation of some of the doctors’ demands. However, he emphasized that partial fulfillment was insufficient grounds to suspend the strike.

“Two nights ago, 28 doctors who had been owed salary arrears for periods ranging from one month to one year were paid. Also, the MRTF of some doctors was paid, though 47 out of 150 are still outstanding,” Ebong said.

He further confirmed that salaries were paid on Tuesday, acknowledging what he described as “the beginning of the implementation” of their demands.

While expressing appreciation for ongoing engagements with the National Assembly and FCTA management, Dr. Ebong insisted that the strike would continue until the remaining issues are resolved.

He also called on government authorities to adopt a proactive approach to addressing workers’ concerns rather than waiting for strikes to force action.

“Our sincere appreciation once more to the Honourable Minister for his leadership and commitment. However, the indefinite strike will continue until the rest of our demands are met,” he stated.

The association outlined several pending demands that must be addressed before the strike can be suspended at both the national (NARD) and FCTA levels. These include:

  • Immediate payment of MRTF to the remaining 47 doctors.
  • Payment of salaries owed to external resident doctors for 6–7 months.
  • Settlement of longstanding skipping arrears.
  • Payment of overdue promotion arrears.
  • Payment of post-Part II conversion arrears.
  • Implementation of the CONMESS 25%/35% adjustment already effected in federal institutions.
  • Payment of the approved wage award.
  • Settlement of 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears dating back to 2021.
  • Immediate employment of additional healthcare workers.
  • Improvement of working conditions across FCTA health facilities.

Dr. Ebong reaffirmed the association’s commitment to dialogue and to achieving lasting solutions that would strengthen the healthcare system in the FCT.

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Health

NCDC : Rainy Season To Increase Cholera Outbreaks in Ten States

They are Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Kwara.

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says that raining and flooding will increase cholera outbreak in ten prone states.

They are Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Kwara.

NCDC, in a statement, yesterday, said the alarm followed flood predictions issued by the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency indicating that the aforementioned states would experience heavy rainfall and flooding between 13th and 17th April 2026.

NCDC noted that, already, cases of cholera are on the rise across the cholera-prone states, and that could simply be attributed to the rainy season, and flood that might have contaminated people’s sources of food and water.

It said: “Recent national surveillance data show increasing cholera activity across multiple states.

Flooding during this period can rapidly increase the risk of disease outbreaks due to contamination of drinking water sources, disruption of sanitation systems, and increased exposure of communities to unsafe environmental conditions.

Importantly, these risks are preventable with early action.”

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FG effects 20% tarrif slash on pharmaceutical products

Reacting to the development, the  President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ayuba-Tanko Ibrahim, described the tariff cut as a positive step but cautioned that the gains would depend on complementary policy actions.

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the Federal Government had in a document dated April 1, 2026, by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, approved sweeping tariff adjustments across 127 product lines, including antimalarial medicaments now pegged at 20 percent, as part of efforts to stimulate growth and ease the cost of critical imports.

Reacting to the development, the  President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ayuba-Tanko Ibrahim, described the tariff cut as a positive step but cautioned that the gains would depend on complementary policy actions.

“A drop in duties on drugs and pharmaceutical products is quite laudable. In normal circumstances, this should signpost a drop in prices of these products and promote accessibility to drugs and healthcare, albeit legitimately.

“The PSN appreciates and commends the commitment of the federal government in the ensuing scenario,” he said.

Emphasising that more is needed to be done to sanitise the sector, Ibrahim said: “It is noteworthy that the federal government must do a little more in terms of regulation and control of drug matters in Nigeria.

‘’Government must see a need for urgent intervention with a template akin to an all-purpose special vehicle that can help fix fundamental issues pertaining to local manufacture and drug prices.

” There is also a need to support local content in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, APIs, and vaccines availability to increase the contribution of the pharmaceutical sector to national GDP, ’’ he said.

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Resident Doctors Suspend Strike, Ask Members to Resume on Wednesday

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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned indefinite nationwide strike and directed all members to resume duties on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

The decision was announced on Tuesday following successful last-minute engagements with the Federal Government and other stakeholders over the contentious suspension of the Professional Allowance Table (PAT) and other welfare issues.

NARD had earlier declared a total and comprehensive strike effective from 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, protesting the government’s move to halt implementation of the revised allowance structure, unpaid promotion arrears, and other outstanding agreements.

In a statement, the association said the suspension was reached after productive discussions, though it issued a fresh ultimatum, warning of renewed industrial action if demands are not fully met by April 21, 2026.

Patients and healthcare facilities across the country, which had braced for disruption in services, are expected to see normal operations resume from Wednesday morning.

NARD urged its members to return to work promptly while maintaining that the core issues remain unresolved and will be reviewed at the next National Executive Council meeting.

The development brings temporary relief to the public health system amid ongoing concerns over doctor shortages and welfare in Nigerian teaching and specialist hospitals.

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