Tinubu Orders Immediate Payment Of N11.9bn Arrears To Doctors

President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of ₦11.9 billion for the payment of outstanding arrears owed to doctors across Nigeria.

The money, which includes accoutrement allowances, is to be paid within 72 hours as part of measures to resolve long-standing grievances in the nation’s health sector.

The approval was confirmed in a statement issued in Abuja by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director and Head of Information at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The decision follows the president’s instruction to fast-track payments owed to medical professionals under various salary and allowance adjustments.

The release of funds is part of ongoing collaboration between the Ministries of Health and Finance to address welfare challenges faced by health workers. In August 2025, ₦10 billion was already disbursed for seven months of unpaid arrears under the 25% and 35% upward reviews of CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures. Another ₦21.3 billion was transferred to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) at the end of October to continue the payment process.

In addition to these payments, the Federal Government had earlier released ₦10.6 billion in September 2025 for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF). The fund provides financial support for resident doctors in federal hospitals across the country, covering training and professional development costs.

The Ministry of Health explained that the payments reflect the government’s effort to maintain industrial harmony in the health sector and to motivate medical professionals who have long complained about delayed salaries and poor working conditions. It said improving the welfare of health workers remains central to ongoing healthcare reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

To tackle manpower shortages caused by brain drain, the government has also approved large-scale recruitment of healthcare workers in federal tertiary institutions. More than 20,000 doctors, nurses, and allied professionals were employed in 2024, while another 15,000 positions have already been approved for 2025. The move is aimed at improving the availability of qualified personnel and reducing the workload in hospitals nationwide.

Negotiations between the Federal Government and major unions, including the Nigerian Medical Association, the Joint Health Sector Unions, and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, are still ongoing. The discussions focus on pay structure, allowances, and working conditions. To foster mutual understanding, a Professor of Industrial Relations, Dafe Otobo, has been appointed to mediate between the government and the unions.

Officials said the new payments and recruitment drive mark a renewed commitment to stabilising the health sector and preventing further strikes. The government reaffirmed that the welfare of doctors and other medical staff remains a top priority in its drive to build a stronger and more effective healthcare system for Nigerians.