The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Administration on Monday began an indefinite strike.

This was disclosed in a communique issued by the ARD-FCT, signed by its President, Dr. George Ebong, and General Secretary, Dr. Agbor Affiong.

The decision followed the association’s seven-day warning strike, which ended after an emergency general meeting held on Sunday.

The ARD-FCTA is an association of doctors practising in the 14 district and general hospitals, including the Department of Public Health under the FCTA.

The doctors had embarked on the warning strike last Monday to press home their demands, after months of unresolved negotiations with the FCTA.

In the communique, the association said that after reassessing the issues earlier presented to management, Congress expressed deep disappointment that none of the demands had been met.

“This once again confirms our fears of the chronic neglect of our healthcare system affecting the effectiveness of the medical doctors in order to carry out care in the highest standard,” the doctors stated in the communique.

The doctors are demanding the payment of salary arrears, ranging from one to six months, owed to members employed since 2023. They also want the immediate recruitment of new staff, settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and payment of arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.

In addition, they are asking for clear timelines for completing skipping and conversion processes for all members, along with the settlement of all accumulated arrears. They further called on the FCTA to address continuous erroneous deductions from members’ salaries and to rectify the irregular and erratic salary payment pattern.

They also demanded the conversion of post-Part II Fellows to the Consultant cadre within six months of passing, as well as documented timelines for promotion exercises with full arrears paid. Other demands include payment of wage award arrears, renovation and equipping of FCTA hospitals to world-class standards, payment of outstanding hazard allowance arrears, and settlement of salary arrears owed to newly employed external residents who are currently owed three to four months’ pay.

The communique noted that following exhaustive deliberations at the close of the seven-day warning strike, Congress resolved to embark on an indefinite strike.

“After the most passionate and historic deliberations in ARD-FCT, Congress unanimously resolved that Congress shall embark on an indefinite strike action commencing 8:00 a.m., Monday, 15th September 2025, until the government and management demonstrate genuine commitment to making health in the FCT a priority.

“We do hope that the management will do the urgent needful to meet all of our demands for the sake of our patients and ourselves,” the communique added.

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Some Communities in the 27 Local Council Areas of Imo State have lamented the poor state of roads in their respective areas and called on the State Government to take adequate measures to address the issue before they are cut off from the state.

They noted that, although the State Government is trying in road construction within the capital territory, much attention need to be given to rural roads which they said have become death traps for the people using them.

Speaking with our correspondent, a Community Head from one of the villages in Owerri West LGA, Nze Marcel Osundu, narrated that virtually all the roads in the Council area are in deplorable condition worsened by the rainy season.

He hinted that plying the roads is like embarking on a journey of death owing to serious accidents on them, even as road users unintentionally engage in violating traffic rules while trying to avoid major bad spots.

“Without mincing words, many roads in Owerri West Local Government Area and across other LGAs in Imo State remain in deplorable condition.

“While the Executive Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has made commendable strides in infrastructural development under his Shared Prosperity Administration, it is also essential that more visible efforts be directed toward rehabilitating rural roads across the State.”he said.

Mr Desmond Aririguzo, who resides in Umuguma, the Headquaters of Owerri West LGA, informed that lack of a proper access route from Owerri town to Umuguma is unbelievable and worrisome as the distance from the community to the State capital city is just a stone throw.

He lamented that businesses and other social engagements have been paralyzed owning to the bad nature of the roads.

Aririguzo added that the situation is turning to a point where it can no longer be overlooked, observing that it is the common man that bears the brunt of the whole thing.

“When you go to a shop to buy certain items you find out that the price of what you bought yesterday has been topped when you try to ask, shop owners will be quick to tell you that it because of the cost of transportation.

“The Owerri-World Bank-Umuguma Road, for instance, is particularly in an appalling state, despite being only five-minute drive from Government House, Owerri.

Thousands of residents of the state who live and conduct their daily activities along this axis endure significant hardship as a result of bad roads “he further lamented.

A provision shop owner, Lady Ihuoma Ekwueme told our correspondent that roads leading to rural areas are very bad and pose a great danger to road users who ply them on a daily basis.

She said that after coming to the city to buy goods, conveying them home becomes a tall task.

Lady Ekwueme said you must engage in strong bargain with commercial drivers before you will be able to convince them to transport your goods home under high price.

“So, in return we will add the transportation fare to the items to sustain our business.’she said.

Mr Moses Adielechi, a commercial farmer from Obitti in Ohaji- Egbema LGA of the State, cried out that perishable agricultural products are wasting away in the rural areas because of lack of means to convey them to the city.

He narrated that some buyers who managed to come over to purchase them virtually take them at a very cheaper price as farmers are willing to give them away to avoid wastage.

Adielechi, maintained that the only way Government can help farmers is by creating access roads that can enable them convey their farm produce to the potential buyers.

“Imo State Government is indeed working, but the urgency of rehabilitating and constructing major roads linking rural communities cannot be overlooked to the detriment of rural dwellers.he said.

The farmer, added that upgrading rural roads across the 27 LGAs would not only ease transportation but also stimulate economic growth and strengthen the transport sector.

The residents urged the Governor to prioritize and accelerate the rehabilitation of vital rural road networks to foster sustainable development and improve the quality of the roads.

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Japan has set a new record as the number of its citizens aged 100 or older has climbed to 99,763, according to fresh figures released by the country’s health ministry.

According to Complex, the new milestone makes it the 55th year in a row Japan is breaking its own centenarian record. Women dominate the numbers, accounting for about 88% of those who have lived past 100.

The country, known for having the world’s longest life expectancy, also has some of the oldest living people on record. Currently, the oldest is 114-year-old Shigeko Kagawa, while the oldest man is 111-year-old Kiyotaka Mizuno.

Officials say the remarkable longevity is largely linked to diet, lifestyle, and low obesity rates. Public health campaigns that reduced salt intake, coupled with active habits like daily walking and group exercises such as “Radio Taiso,” have helped keep many Japanese people healthier for longer.

But the rise also reflects one of the fastest ageing societies in the world, with a low birth rate adding to the challenge.

The latest figures were published ahead of Japan’s annual Elderly Day celebration on September 15, when new centenarians are honoured with a congratulatory letter and a silver cup from the prime minister.

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