……Pays ₦43 Billion Arrears of workers
By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun massive recruitment of health workers across the federation, reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising the welfare and motivation of health workers as the foundation for strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, unveiling a comprehensive package of payments, reforms, and recruitment efforts aimed at ensuring industrial peace in the sector.
According to a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director, Head of Information and Public Relations, on Saturday, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, announced significant financial interventions and workforce reforms to address the long-standing concerns of medical professionals, particularly members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
Speaking on the₦43 Billion Released for Arrears and Allowances, the Ministry confirmed that in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance, the government has commenced the payment of seven months’ arrears from the 25%/35% upward review of CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures.
According to the statement, the minister affirmed the total of ₦10 billion was disbursed in August 2025, followed by another ₦21.3 billion recently transferred to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for payment to eligible health workers. An additional ₦11.995 billion is being processed for payment within 72 hours to clear other arrears, including accoutrement allowances.
The statement stated that the government released ₦10.6 billion as the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), which has been fully paid to resident doctors nationwide.
“To tackle the persistent challenge of brain drain and overstretched hospital personnel, the Federal Government has granted special waivers for massive recruitment across federal tertiary health institutions.
“Under the Renewed Hope Health Agenda, over 20,000 health professionals, including doctors, nurses, and allied health workers, were employed in 2024 across 58 Federal Health Institutions. Recruitment for 2025 is already underway, with 15,000 new positions approved for immediate engagement.”
“This recruitment drive forms part of a larger strategy to ensure Nigeria’s hospitals are well-staffed, safe, and capable of delivering quality healthcare to citizens,” the Ministry said.
On ongoing Negotiations to Strengthen Industrial Dialogue, The Ministry also disclosed that collective bargaining discussions are ongoing with key unions, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), NARD, Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANM).
“To foster a more productive dialogue, a professional negotiator, Prof. Dafe Otobo, an expert in Industrial Relations, has been engaged to mediate the discussions. The negotiator has held both individual and joint meetings with the unions, alongside representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, to fast-track consensus on key issues.
“Among the issues under negotiation are specialist allowances, salary relativity, consultant cadre appointments, and other welfare-related concerns. The Ministry of Labour has also pledged to expedite the conclusion of the collective bargaining process once agreements are reached.
Clarifications on Key Matters of Dismissal of Five Doctors (Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja), the statement highlighted that three affected doctors who did not face a properly constituted disciplinary panel have been offered reinstatement. The remaining two cases, which went through due process, have been referred to Prof. Otobo for independent review within four weeks.
“Certificate Categorization: The Ministry clarified that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) only reclassified certificates from the West African Postgraduate Medical College, rather than downgraded them, describing the move as a standard regulatory adjustment.
“Payment Delays and Promotions: These were attributed to administrative bottlenecks within IPPIS, but ongoing engagements are expected to resolve them swiftly.
“Special Pension Benefits: The matter is being handled by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) through a joint committee with relevant stakeholders.
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“FG Reiterates Commitment to Health Sector Stability, reaffirming the government’s stance, the Ministry stated that the reforms and financial interventions underscore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to place the welfare of Nigeria’s health workforce at the centre of the nation’s healthcare reform agenda.
“Our health workforce is the bedrock of Nigeria’s healthcare reform. Every policy, investment, and strategy under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) is anchored on their well-being, motivation, and professional fulfilment,” the statement concluded.
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