The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), has re-elected Dr George Ebong as its president for another one-year term. The re-election took place over the weekend in Abuja during the association’s week-long programme, which brought together resident doctors from various government-owned hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Dr Ebong was sworn in on Saturday and will continue to lead the association, which represents resident doctors working under the FCT Administration. His re-election reflects the confidence of members in his leadership and his efforts in addressing issues affecting doctors in the territory.
Speaking shortly after taking the oath of office, Dr Ebong thanked members of the association for trusting him with another term. He promised to remain committed to protecting and promoting the welfare of resident doctors, which he described as a right and not a privilege.
According to him, resident doctors play a critical role in Nigeria’s healthcare system, as they form the backbone of service delivery in public hospitals. He said their welfare must be taken seriously if the country wants to improve healthcare services and retain skilled medical professionals.
Dr Ebong used the occasion to appeal to the Federal Capital Territory authorities, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, to place doctors’ welfare high on their list of priorities. He said better welfare packages, improved working conditions, and timely payment of salaries would go a long way in motivating doctors and reducing the growing problem of migration to other countries.
In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a steady increase in the number of doctors leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad. This trend, commonly referred to as “brain drain,” has affected public hospitals, leading to manpower shortages and increased workload for doctors who remain.
Dr Ebong warned that if urgent steps are not taken, the healthcare sector in the FCT and across the country could face serious challenges. He stressed that improving welfare would help discourage doctors from leaving Nigeria and ensure that patients continue to receive quality care.
He also called on the FCT Administration to address the concerns of other health workers, including nurses and allied health professionals. According to him, unresolved issues affecting different groups of health workers often lead to industrial actions, which disrupt healthcare services and affect patients.
Despite raising these concerns, Dr Ebong commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for recent approvals aimed at improving the health sector. Although he did not list all the approvals, he noted that they showed a willingness by the minister to address some of the challenges facing doctors and other health workers.
He, however, appealed for the speedy implementation of these approvals, stressing that delays often reduce their impact.
The ARD-FCTA is one of the major professional associations in the Nigerian health sector. It operates under the larger Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (ARDN), which represents resident doctors across the country. Resident doctors are medical doctors undergoing specialist training in teaching hospitals and major medical centres.
Over the years, the association has played a key role in negotiations with government authorities on issues such as salary structure, training allowances, working hours, and hospital facilities. It has also been involved in several nationwide and local strikes aimed at drawing attention to the challenges facing doctors.
The FCT, as the nation’s capital, hosts several major government hospitals, including the National Hospital, Abuja, and other secondary health facilities. These hospitals serve residents of the FCT as well as patients referred from other parts of the country.
