The Federal Government has announced that approximately N11.995 billion will be released within 72 hours to settle outstanding arrears, including accoutrement allowances, owed to doctors and other health workers nationwide.
Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director and Head of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, stated on Saturday that the move aims to address welfare issues raised by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and other unions, underscoring the Federal Government’s commitment to industrial harmony and health sector reforms.
The assurance was reiterated during a high-level meeting led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, between the ministry’s top management and NARD leadership, following the association’s recent welfare and professional concerns.
The meeting comes after a nationwide strike that began on Saturday, involving approximately 11,000 resident doctors across 91 healthcare facilities.
Striking doctors continue to protest over unpaid arrears, delayed allowances, and other welfare concerns, despite prior government assurances. Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, stated on Monday that the Federal Government owes doctors and health workers around N38 billion in accumulated allowances.
The government, however, reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing the welfare, motivation, and stability of the nation’s health workforce as the cornerstone of all health policies and programs.
Working jointly with the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has begun paying seven months’ arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent upward adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure. So far, N10bn was released in August 2025 for health workers across all cadres
In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for the swift settlement of outstanding arrears owed to health workers, including NARD members, the government has transferred an additional ₦21.3 billion to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System as of Thursday, October 30. The disbursement process has already begun.
Furthermore, an additional N11.995bn is currently being processed and is expected to be released within the next 72 hours to settle outstanding arrears, including accoutrement allowances.
“All payments are being received by members of NARD in line with the health sector’s salary structure. Furthermore, as of September 2025, the Federal Government has disbursed N10.6 billion, covering the full 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, paid exclusively to resident doctors across the country,” the statement added.