Nigerian Federal Government to release ₦11.9 billion within 72 hours after doctors begin indefinite strike over unpaid salary and allowance arrears.
The Federal Government has directed the immediate release of nearly ₦12 billion to settle outstanding salary and allowance arrears owed to health workers, following the declaration of an indefinite strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced the decision on Saturday November 15, 2025, confirming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered an expedited payment to ease rising tensions in the sector. The strike, which began just hours earlier, has already forced many public hospitals to scale down services, raising fears of disruptions to critical care.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, officials said ₦11.995 billion will be released within 72 hours to cover various outstanding allowances, including accoutrement payments owed to medical staff.
Balogun noted that the administration has been making phased payments since August 2025, when ₦10 billion was disbursed to begin offsetting seven months of arrears that resulted from a 25–35 percent salary review for health workers under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure.
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As of 30 October, an additional ₦21.3 billion had already been transferred to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), with payments underway nationwide. He said resident doctors are currently benefiting from these releases in line with approved salary frameworks.
The ministry also disclosed that ₦10.6 billion was released in September as the full 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, paid exclusively to resident doctors across the country.
Beyond financial commitments, the Federal Government said it has taken steps to strengthen Nigeria’s strained health workforce. According to the ministry, over 20,000 healthcare professionals have been recruited across 58 federal tertiary institutions, while approval has been granted to employ an additional 15,000 workers in 2025.
“This recruitment drive is part of a broader effort to ensure that our hospitals are adequately staffed, safe, and capable of delivering quality care,” the statement said.
Balogun added that collective bargaining talks with health unions remain ongoing. These include negotiations with NARD—an affiliate of the Nigerian Medical Association—alongside the Joint Health Sector Unions and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
At the moment, government is urging striking doctors to consider the progress made so far, but NARD leaders say the strike will continue until all outstanding financial commitments are fulfilled and structural issues within the sector are addressed.