Resident doctors at the Federal Medical Center, FMC, Abeokuta, Ogun state, on Friday commenced a five-day warning strike to agitate for better health-care conditions.

Ekwutosblog reports that the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku, had announced the industrial action after what he described as government inaction on long-standing demands.

Odunbaku in a statement signed on Friday, titled, ‘Declaration of strike action’, explained the five-day warning strike followed the expiration of an ultimatum to the Federal Government over unpaid allowances, salary arrears and unresolved welfare issues.

Speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta, a Senior Registrar at FMC, Abeokuta and President of ARD in the centre, Dr. Adegboyega Ridwan, noted that they commenced the strike at about 8:00 am on Friday morning.

He listed the outstanding issues to include the non-payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF, which affects more than 2,000 resident doctors nationwide — including those at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Ridwan said, “We commenced our strike with effect from 8 a.m. this morning due to certain demands we presented to the Federal Government, and by extension some state governments.

“Some of these demands had been promised, some affirmed to an extent, but suddenly they are not forthcoming from the part of government.

“This is a warning strike. After five days, we will review the situation. It could even be shorter if the government meets some of our immediate demands.”

Other grievances include unpaid arrears, delays in implementing the reviewed consolidated salary structure, and failure to honor earlier agreements.

Ekwutosblog gathered that FMC Abeokuta has about 400 doctors, out of which over 350 are resident doctors participating in the strike.

Ridwan while confirming this disclosed that arrangements have been made to minimize patients’ suffering as they have considered admissions, patient management and referrals, to ensure patients are not abandoned.

“We had given a 21-day ultimatum, extended it by 10 days, and even added 24 hours before taking this step. We considered admissions, patient management, and referrals carefully to ensure patients are not abandoned.

“Consultants, nurses, and some doctors outside ARD are still on ground to offer basic care, but the impact of this action will still be felt,” he added.

The Lagos State Government has declared it unlawful for any health facility to train or employ auxiliary nurses, warning that hospitals found engaging in such practices risk outright closure.

Permanent Secretary of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, Dr Abiola Idowu, issued the warning on Thursday during a sensitisation campaign and town hall meeting held in Alimosho Local Council.

The event focused on the roles and responsibilities of HEFAMAA in safeguarding healthcare standards across the state.

Represented by the agency’s Director of Research and Statistics, Dr Olorunfemi Olonire, Idowu explained that the ban on auxiliary nurses was introduced because their activities have caused more harm than good to the healthcare system. She stressed that only qualified and licensed medical professionals are permitted to practise in Lagos.

She urged residents to report unlicensed health facilities and quack practitioners to HEFAMAA for appropriate enforcement actions, noting that the state is determined to prevent citizens from being misdiagnosed or handled by unqualified personnel.

According to her, the agency shut down 32 health facilities between January and June this year for various infractions, as part of efforts to ensure that only accredited hospitals operate in Lagos. Monitoring and inspection teams, she added, have been deployed across all local councils and development areas.

Also speaking at the event, the King of Shasha Kingdom, Oba Babatunde Nasiru, called on HEFAMAA to address the poor attitude of staff in public hospitals towards patients. He urged the agency to intensify oversight of government facilities while pressing the state to properly equip and staff them.

The monarch warned that unless the government improves service delivery in its hospitals, residents would continue to patronise quack practitioners. He emphasised the importance of HEFAMAA’s monitoring role in ensuring that residents are not exposed to unqualified medical personnel posing as nurses or doctors.

The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory, ARD-FCT, has commenced a seven-day warning strike.

ARD disclosed this in a communique issued by its President, Dr George Ebong, and other executive members.

The resident doctors described the FCT health system as a longstanding systemic failure requiring comprehensive and immediate reform.

Ebong stressed that doctors in the FCT were under immense pressure, frequently covering multiple departments.

The union last month urged the government to quickly address rising challenges in the city’s health sector.

The union’s president, therefore, called for urgent intervention in areas like manpower shortages, non-functional equipment, poor working conditions, and unpaid staff allowances.

He warned that continued neglect could cause systemic collapse.