By Muhammad Amaan
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said the sum of N11.9 billion would be release within 72 hours by the Federal Government for the payment of outstanding arrears, including accoutrement allowance, to doctors and other health workers across the country.
This was contained in a press statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja and signed by the Deputy Director and Head, Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun.
According to the ministry, the move is part of ongoing efforts to resolve welfare concerns raised by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors and other unions and to reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to industrial peace and reform in the health sector.
The statement said the assurance was reiterated during a high-level meeting led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, between the top management of the ministry and the leadership of NARD, following the association’s recent agitations over welfare and professional concerns.
The announcement is a 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).
The NARD had commence an indefinite nationwide strike on November 1, over unpaid arrears, delays in allowances, and other welfare-related issues.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, stated that as of Thursday, October 30, an additional N21.3 billion had been transferred to the IPPIS account, and payment to beneficiaries had commenced.
“In addition, the sum of N11.995 billion is being processed for release within 72 hours to settle other outstanding arrears, including the accoutrement allowance.”
Dr Salako explained that these payments are being made in line with the approved salary structure for the health sector.
To address the strain caused by brain drain and prolonged working hours, the Federal Government has also granted special waivers to enable the massive recruitment of healthcare professionals across federal tertiary institutions.
He noted that this recruitment drive is part of a broader strategy to ensure that Nigeria’s health facilities are adequately staffed, safe, and equipped to deliver quality healthcare services to citizens.
On ongoing negotiations and industrial dialogue, Dr Salako confirmed that collective bargaining discussions are continuing with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), of which NARD is an affiliate, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
Dr Salako emphasized that these interventions reflect the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of health workers, ensuring industrial harmony, and upholding the uninterrupted delivery of quality healthcare services to Nigerians.
Disclosing this iin a statement, NARD President, Mohammad Suleiman, said the union embarked on the strike after the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum earlier given to the Federal Government over unresolved demands.
This latest action comes after a five-hour meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) on Saturday.
“The NEC has marshalled out minimum demands, strike monitoring directives, and ‘no work, no pay/no pay, no work’ resolutions needed for a successful execution of this action,” the statement reads in part.
