By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Federal Government has disbursed a total of N43.3 billion to doctors across Nigeria as part of its efforts to clear outstanding arrears, strengthen the health workforce, and sustain industrial harmony in the health sector.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director and Head of Information & Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
According to the statement, the government reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising the welfare of health workers as the foundation of ongoing reforms.
“The welfare, motivation, and stability of our health workforce remain the bedrock upon which all health policies, strategies, and actions are built,” said the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Abuja.
Balogun explained that the Federal Government, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, began payment of seven months’ arrears of the 25% and 35% upward review of CONMESS and CONHESS salaries in August 2025, amounting to N10 billion.
He added that, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval, an additional N21.3 billion was moved to the IPPIS account for further payments, while N11.995 billion is being processed for release within 72 hours to cover other arrears, including accoutrement allowances.
Balogun further noted that all payments were being enjoyed by NARD members in line with the salary structures in the health sector.
In September 2025, the government also released N10.6 billion for the full payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), benefiting resident doctors nationwide.
To tackle the challenges of brain drain and overwork, the Federal Government granted special waivers for large-scale recruitment across tertiary hospitals.
“In 2024, over 20,000 doctors, nurses, and allied professionals were employed across 58 Federal Health Institutions,” Balogun disclosed.
“The recruitment for 2025 is ongoing, with over 15,000 already approved for employment.”
He added that negotiations were ongoing with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANM) to resolve all pending welfare issues.
To enhance dialogue, the ministry engaged Prof. Dafe Otobo, a renowned industrial relations expert, to facilitate discussions between the government and union leaders.
Balogun said the negotiator had held several meetings with stakeholders, including one on October 24, 2025, to reach consensus on unresolved matters such as specialist allowances, salary relativity, and consultant cadre concerns.
On the dismissal of five doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, Balogun clarified that three of the affected doctors, who were not subjected to a properly constituted disciplinary process, had been offered reabsorption into government service, while the remaining two cases were under review.
He also explained that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)’s reclassification of certificates was a “routine regulatory adjustment,” not a downgrade.
Dr. Salako reaffirmed the government’s resolve to place doctors’ welfare at the centre of Nigeria’s healthcare reforms.
“Our health workforce is the bedrock of Nigeria’s healthcare reform. Every policy, investment, and strategy we implement under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) is anchored on their well-being, motivation, and professional fulfillment,”
he stated.
The systement concluded by stressing that the ministry remains steadfast in safeguarding the rights and welfare of doctors, ensuring industrial harmony, and guaranteeing uninterrupted delivery of quality healthcare services to Nigerians.