By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

The Federal Government has begun paying outstanding arrears to health workers to resolve welfare disputes with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors. This intervention is designed to restore industrial peace and prevent further strikes from disrupting the healthcare system.

The Ministry of Health approved over ₦33.3 billion for these payments, including ₦21.3 billion for salary arrears via IPPIS. An additional ₦11.995 billion is being released to cover specific outstanding professional allowances and accoutrement payments.

These payments align with President Bola Tinubu’s health reform agenda, which focuses on motivating the medical workforce.

The government views settling these debts as a critical step in maintaining the bedrock of Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.

The government noted that ₦10.6 billion was recently allocated for residency training, alongside ₦10 billion for previous salary reviews. Officials attributed recent payment delays to technical issues within the IPPIS system, which are now being addressed.

To ensure long-term stability, Professor Dafe Otobo has been appointed as a professional negotiator to mediate between the government and health unions. This dialogue aims to reach a permanent agreement on specialist allowances and other recurring welfare issues.

The government is tackling the “brain drain” by approving 15,000 new health personnel for 2025, following 20,000 recruitments in 2024. This combined strategy of clearing debts and increasing staff is intended to reduce the heavy workload on current doctors.