FG Pledges Release of ₦11.99bn Within 72 Hours to Defray Resident Doctors’ Arrears
The Federal Government has announced plans to release ₦11.995 billion within the next 72 hours to clear outstanding arrears owed to resident doctors and other health workers, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen industrial harmony and improve welfare in Nigeria’s health sector.
The announcement came after a high-level meeting between the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, senior officials of the ministry, and the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), following renewed agitations by the association over pending welfare and professional issues.
Dr. Salako reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring industrial peace and sustainable reform in the health sector, noting that the welfare and motivation of medical professionals remain central to the success of Nigeria’s healthcare policies.
He disclosed that in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance, the government had already paid ₦10 billion in August 2025 to settle seven months of arrears resulting from the 25% and 35% upward review of the CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures.
Following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for prompt settlement of outstanding payments, an additional ₦21.3 billion was recently credited to the IPPIS account, with disbursements already underway. The minister confirmed that another ₦11.995 billion would be released within 72 hours to offset other arrears, including accoutrement allowances.
“These payments reflect the administration’s genuine commitment to addressing the legitimate concerns of health workers and ensuring their welfare is protected,” the ministry said.
To mitigate the effects of brain drain and excessive workload among medical professionals, the Federal Government has approved special waivers for the mass recruitment of healthcare workers across federal tertiary institutions.
Under the Renewed Hope Health Agenda, more than 20,000 doctors, nurses, and allied professionals were recruited in 2024 across 58 federal health institutions. Recruitment for 2025 is currently ongoing, with over 15,000 new health workers already approved for employment.
In addition, the government has disbursed ₦10.6 billion as full payment for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), benefiting resident doctors nationwide.
The Ministry confirmed that collective bargaining talks are ongoing with major health unions, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), NARD, JOHESU, and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
To enhance the negotiation process, the Ministry has engaged renowned industrial relations expert, Prof. Dafe Otobo, to serve as a mediator between the government and union leaders. Prof. Otobo has already met with all unions individually, and a joint meeting was held on October 24, 2025, to resolve lingering disputes comprehensively.
According to the Ministry, discussions are progressing on key issues such as specialist allowances, salary relativity, consultant cadre appointments, and other welfare-related demands. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has also indicated readiness to conclude the collective bargaining process once a consensus is reached.
