By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Federal Government has announced plans to release ₦11.995 billion within 72 hours for the payment of outstanding arrears, including accoutrement allowances, owed to doctors and other health workers across the country.
The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Saturday by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and signed by the Deputy Director and Head of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun.
According to the ministry, the decision is part of efforts to address the welfare demands of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and other unions, and to reaffirm government’s commitment to industrial harmony and reforms in the health sector.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, between top officials of the ministry and NARD’s leadership. The meeting came amid a nationwide strike that began on Saturday, involving over 11,000 resident doctors across 91 healthcare facilities.
The striking doctors are protesting unpaid arrears, delays in allowances, and other welfare concerns despite earlier assurances from government officials. NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, had earlier claimed that the Federal Government owes health workers about ₦38 billion in accumulated allowances.
The ministry said the payment process is ongoing in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, noting that seven months of arrears from the 25–35 percent salary review under the Consolidated Medical and Health Salary Structures have already been paid, with ₦10 billion disbursed in August 2025.
It added that ₦21.3 billion was transferred to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) account as of October 30 for further disbursement, while the additional ₦11.995 billion will be released within 72 hours for other outstanding allowances.
The statement further revealed that ₦10.6 billion was released in September 2025 as full payment for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund for resident doctors nationwide.
To tackle the impact of brain drain and excessive workloads, the ministry said the Federal Government has approved special waivers for massive recruitment across tertiary hospitals. Over 20,000 doctors, nurses, and allied professionals were hired across 58 federal health institutions in 2024, while another 15,000 have been approved for recruitment in 2025.
The ministry explained that these efforts form part of a broader plan to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system and ensure adequate staffing in hospitals. It added that ongoing collective bargaining talks involve NARD, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
To enhance dialogue, the ministry has engaged a professional negotiator, Prof. Dafe Otobo, to mediate discussions between the government and unions in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
On other issues, the ministry confirmed that three of five dismissed doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, have been offered reinstatement, while the cases of the remaining two will be reviewed within four weeks.
It also clarified that the reclassification of certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria was a regulatory adjustment, not a downgrade, and that consultations are ongoing to resolve related concerns.
The ministry attributed delays in payments and promotions to administrative issues within the IPPIS and said discussions are underway with relevant agencies to expedite solutions.
Concluding, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of health workers and ensuring uninterrupted delivery of quality healthcare services to Nigerians.
