FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has already addressed about 90 percent of the issues raised by resident doctors under its employment, while the remaining matters are awaiting final approval.
Mandate Secretary of the Health and Environment Services Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Her comments came in response to recent statements from the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-FCTA), which alleged that none of their demands had been met despite suspending their indefinite strike on September 22, following Senate intervention.
Dr. Fasawe clarified that most of the doctors’ requests had already received official approval, noting that only a small portion of the process remained under the direct supervision of 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 document 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 this renewed attention, we will follow up with the Minister to fast-track implementation.”
She urged the doctors to show patience and engage the administration through formal communication, suggesting they send a follow-up letter outlining realistic timelines.
Dr. Fasawe warned that resuming industrial action would only worsen the strain on patients and the health system across the FCT.
> “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 added.
Acknowledging that doctors in Nigeria’s public hospitals are underpaid, Fasawe assured that both the Federal Government and the FCTA are working on reforms aimed at improving welfare and curbing the ‘Japa’ trend among health workers.
> “Reforms in the health sector cannot be achieved overnight, but progress is being made gradually,” she said.
She also appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to formally write to the FCT Minister regarding its request for an access road to the association’s property at Mamusa North District, Sabon Lugbe.
(NAN)
