Federal Government has released ₦11.9 billion for the settlement of outstanding allowances owed to medical professionals.
Gatekeepers News reports that federal government also approved large-scale recruitment to tackle the shortage of health workers across Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu authorised the payments as part of renewed efforts to address welfare issues raised by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and other medical unions.
According to Salako, an additional ₦21.3 billion has already been credited to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) account.
He added that the ₦11.995 billion recently approved will be disbursed within 72 hours to cover arrears and accoutrement allowances for doctors and allied health workers. The minister noted that the payments comply with the government’s approved salary structure for the health sector.
Salako noted that the administration is also responding to the impact of brain drain and workforce fatigue by granting waivers to fast-track the recruitment of new medical and health personnel across federal tertiary institutions.
He said the initiative aims to ensure hospitals are adequately staffed, safe, and equipped to provide quality healthcare services.
Salako added that discussions remain ongoing between Federal Government and key professional unions, including Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
He said, “These interventions reflect the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of health workers, ensuring industrial harmony, and upholding the uninterrupted delivery of quality healthcare services to Nigerians.”
The development comes amid heightened tension in the health sector, following NARD’s announcement of plans to embark on an indefinite strike starting November 1, 2025.
The union’s president, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, said the decision followed the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum issued to the government over unresolved demands.
Federal Government is reportedly intensifying dialogue with NARD to avert the planned strike.
