FG Pays Nearly ₦12bn to Health Workers, Begins Nationwide Recruitment Drive

The Federal Government has approved the release of nearly ₦12 billion to settle outstanding arrears owed to doctors and other health workers, as part of efforts to end growing unrest in the nation’s health sector.

Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed on Thursday that President Bola Tinubu had directed the prompt payment of outstanding allowances to members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and other medical professionals.

According to Salako, an additional ₦21.3 billion has already been transferred to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for immediate disbursement to beneficiaries.

He added that another ₦11.995 billion would be released within 72 hours to cover pending arrears, including accoutrement allowances, in line with the government’s approved salary structure for health workers.

The minister also revealed that the government had granted special waivers to enable large-scale recruitment of healthcare professionals across federal hospitals and medical centres.

“This recruitment drive is part of a wider strategy to ensure our health facilities are adequately staffed, safe, and equipped to deliver quality healthcare to Nigerians,” Salako said.

He further confirmed that ongoing negotiations were being held with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) to sustain industrial peace and improve working conditions.

“These interventions underscore the Federal Government’s firm commitment to protecting the welfare of health workers and maintaining uninterrupted healthcare delivery,” he added.

The announcement comes just days after the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors threatened to begin an indefinite nationwide strike from November 1, 2025, over unmet demands.

NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, said the strike directive followed the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum issued to the government and a five-hour National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday.

“The NEC has marshalled out minimum demands, strike monitoring directives, and ‘no work, no pay/no pay, no work’ resolutions needed for the successful execution of this action,” the association said in its statement.