The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced its intention to release the sum of N11.9 billion, the national currency, within 72 hours to settle a portion of the outstanding salary and allowance arrears owed to medical professionals across the country. This urgent directive follows the commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which began over the weekend due to the government’s perceived failure to meet the association’s demands concerning welfare and professional issues. The Head of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Alaba Balogun, confirmed the financial move in a statement on Saturday, assuring that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to resolving the labour dispute.
The government’s action is an acceleration of its ongoing commitment to clear arrears owed to health workers, which was reinforced by President Tinubu’s directive for an expedited payment process. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance, has already commenced the payment of a seven-month backlog arising from the 25–35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). This process began with an initial release of N10 billion in August 2025.
In further evidence of the accelerated payment, an additional sum of N21.3 billion was moved to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) account by Thursday, 30 October 2025, for disbursement to health workers, including NARD members. The N11.995 billion currently being processed for release within the three-day window is intended to cover other outstanding arrears, such as the accoutrement allowance. Furthermore, the Federal Government has confirmed the full payment of N10.6 billion for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), which is exclusively for resident doctors nationwide, with the disbursement completed as of September 2025.
Beyond the immediate financial settlements, the Federal Government is also tackling the persistent issue of brain drain and overwork in federal tertiary institutions by granting special waivers for the mass recruitment of healthcare professionals. It was noted that over 20,000 health workers have been employed across 58 federal health institutions, with a further 15,000 personnel approved for recruitment in the 2025 fiscal year. This comprehensive recruitment drive is part of a wider government strategy aimed at ensuring that the nation’s health facilities are adequately staffed and equipped to provide quality care to citizens.
Meanwhile, collective bargaining discussions remain ongoing with various health unions, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), NARD’s affiliate, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives. To facilitate constructive engagement and find consensus on controversial issues, the Ministry has engaged the services of Professor Dafe Otobo, an expert in Industrial Relations, as a professional negotiator. Discussions are progressing on a range of issues raised by the unions, which include specialist and other allowances, salary relativity, and the appointment of consultant cadres in hospitals
