Strike: Resident doctors urge Gov Alia to rescue situation

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The Association of Resident Doctors, Benue State University Teaching Hospital (ARD BSUTH), has appealed to the State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia to come to the rescue of the institution with timely resolution of the issues affecting them to enable healthcare services to resume at the hospital without any further delay.

This was contained in a press statement signed by Dr Kawen Pededoo and Dr Msonter Anzaa, President General and Secretary of the association respectively, following their ongoing strike, which began on December 1, 2025.

The strike is a culmination of unresolved issues between the association and the Benue State Government, as well as the hospital’s management.

Key demands by the association include the payment of 18 months’ Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) arrears, which accrued after the implementation of the revised salary structure in June 2023, immediate cessation of pension deductions from doctors’ salaries until the full remittance of previous deductions is made up to date.

The association is also demanding a refund of excess tax deductions made from doctors’ salaries in November and December 2025, as well as renovation of the doctors’ quarters, which have deteriorated over the years, and the establishment of a security post in the doctors’ quarters to increase surveillance.

The association is also requesting that the entry level for new doctors be raised to CONMESS 3/6 to attract and retain doctors following gross shortage of medical doctors in the country.

The president lamented that the strike has resulted in the disruption of healthcare services in the hospital, leaving patients to seek medical attention elsewhere.

“Such exodus of doctors exacerbates the already-existing shortage of manpower, increases the workload, thereby worsening burnout, increasing the likelihood of medical errors, negatively affecting patient care and ultimately leading to the exit of even more doctors from the facility.

“The economic policies introduced by the Federal Government in 2023 have had severe adverse effects on the income of salary earners. The cost of living has gone up far higher than doctors’ salaries can afford. Also, the purchasing power of the national currency has sunken,” the statement read.