By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, is facing a temporary disruption in clinical services following the commencement of a three-day warning strike by resident doctors over worsening security conditions within the hospital environment.
The industrial action, which began on Thursday, June 4, 2026, was declared after an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FMC Abeokuta, where members reviewed what they described as repeated breaches of safety within the institution’s residential quarters.
At the centre of the dispute is a recent burglary at the House Officers’ Quarters, where several personal items belonging to medical staff were stolen, including mobile phones, a laptop computer, cash, and identification documents. The incident, according to the association, has further deepened concerns about the safety of healthcare workers living within the hospital premises.
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In a communiqué jointly signed by the ARD President, Dr. Olanipekun Quadri Arise-Kola, and the Assistant General Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Alawode, the doctors said the latest incident reflects a broader pattern of inadequate security measures that have persisted despite previous complaints.
The association noted that the environment, which is expected to provide safety for frontline health workers, has instead become a source of anxiety, particularly for young doctors who reside within the quarters and often work irregular hours.
“The repeated security breaches have created an unsafe living condition for our members, thereby affecting their welfare and overall morale,” the communiqué stated.
Rather than an isolated case, the doctors said the burglary represents what they called a failure of existing security arrangements, warning that continued exposure to such risks could compromise both staff welfare and service delivery.
Consequently, The Merit Newspaper reports that the association resolved to withdraw its services for three days, from June 4 to June 6, 2026, to compel urgent intervention from hospital authorities.
As part of their demands, the doctors called for immediate replacement of stolen items belonging to affected members and a comprehensive overhaul of the hospital’s security structure.
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They further demanded the deployment of a more effective security outfit, improved lighting across the hospital and residential areas, installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, and reinforcement of perimeter fencing to restrict unauthorized access.
The association also urged management to establish a functional police post within or near the facility, deploy armed security personnel, and introduce regular night patrols to enhance surveillance and response capability.
Despite the withdrawal of services, the doctors stressed that the action was taken reluctantly and only to draw attention to what they described as an urgent threat to staff welfare.
They reiterated their readiness to continue engagement with the hospital management, insisting that the safety of healthcare workers remains essential to sustaining effective medical services.
As of press time, the management of FMC Abeokuta had yet to issue an official response to the strike action or the demands outlined by the resident doctors.
The situation is expected to be closely watched in the coming days as stakeholders await the outcome of negotiations between both parties, which will determine whether the strike is suspended or escalated.
