FG moves to end doctors’ strike with N11.9bn arrears payment, mass recruitment drive

FG moves to end doctors’ strike with N11.9bn arrears payment, mass recruitment drive

In a swift response to the indefinite strike launched by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the Federal Government has announced plans to release ₦11.9 billion within 72 hours to settle part of the salary and allowance arrears owed to medical professionals.

The announcement, confirmed by Alaba Balogun, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for expedited payment to health workers across the country.

Breakdown of Payments and Ongoing Disbursements

• In August 2025, ₦10 billion was released to begin payment of seven months’ arrears from the 25–35% salary review for health workers.
• As of October 30, ₦21.3 billion was transferred to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) account, with disbursement underway.
• An additional ₦11.995 billion is being processed for release within 72 hours to cover other arrears, including accoutrement allowances.
• In September 2025, ₦10.6 billion was paid out as the full allocation for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), benefiting resident doctors nationwide.

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Addressing Brain Drain and Staffing Shortages To combat the growing challenge of brain drain and excessive workloads, the Federal Government has granted special waivers for the mass recruitment of healthcare professionals. Over 20,000 health workers have already been employed across 58 federal institutions, with approval secured for an additional 15,000 hires in 2025.

Balogun emphasized that this recruitment initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure Nigeria’s health facilities are adequately staffed and equipped to provide quality care.

Negotiations and Collective Bargaining Efforts The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, has intensified collective bargaining efforts with key health unions, including NARD, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Unions, and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.

To facilitate constructive dialogue, the government has engaged Professor Dafe Otobo, a seasoned industrial relations expert, to mediate discussions. A joint meeting involving all stakeholders was held on October 24, 2025, aimed at resolving longstanding issues such as:

• Specialist and other allowances
• Salary relativity
• Appointment of consultant cadres
• General welfare concerns

The Ministry of Labour and Productivity has expressed its commitment to concluding the negotiation process once consensus is reached.

As the government accelerates efforts to meet the demands of health workers, stakeholders remain hopeful that the ongoing strike will be resolved promptly, restoring normalcy to Nigeria’s healthcare system.

FG moves to end doctors’ strike with N11.9bn arrears payment, mass recruitment drive