The Federal Government of Nigeria has committed to releasing N11.995 billion within 72 hours to settle outstanding arrears for doctors and other health workers amid a nationwide strike. This follows a high-level meeting with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which began an indefinite strike on Saturday over unpaid salaries and welfare issues. The pledge includes payments for accoutrement allowances and builds on recent disbursements totaling over N40 billion.
Resident doctors across Nigeria launched a nationwide indefinite strike on Saturday, withdrawing services from federal and state health facilities due to the government's failure to honor welfare agreements. NARD President Dr. Muhammad Suleiman stated that the Federal Government owes approximately 50,000 health workers, including doctors, about N38 billion in salary arrears, excluding allowances. He emphasized that the action stems from excessive workloads, poor pay, and burnout compromising patient care, describing it as a 'painful but necessary step' to rescue the healthcare system.
In response, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare issued a statement on October 31, 2025, signed by Deputy Director Alaba Balogun. It detailed ongoing efforts from a meeting led by Minister of State Dr. Iziaq Salako with NARD leaders. The government has already paid N10 billion in August 2025 for seven months' arrears of the 25-35% upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). On October 30, 2025, N21.3 billion was transferred to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for further payments. The additional N11.995 billion is being processed for release within 72 hours to cover other arrears, including accoutrement allowances, benefiting NARD members.
The ministry also highlighted N10.6 billion released in September 2025 as full payment for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, exclusively for resident doctors. To address brain drain and staffing shortages, special waivers enabled the recruitment of over 20,000 health workers in 2024 across 58 federal institutions, with 15,000 more approved for 2025. Broader reforms include engaging Professor Dafe Otobo as a negotiator for collective bargaining with unions like NARD, the Nigerian Medical Association, and others. Discussions cover specialist allowances, salary relativity, and welfare issues, with a joint meeting held on October 24, 2025.
The statement reaffirmed the government's commitment to health workforce stability as the foundation of national health policies, aiming for industrial harmony and quality care under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.