The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially released ₦433 billion to Nigerian doctors as part of efforts to enhance healthcare delivery nationwide. The payment, confirmed on October 30th, marks a significant financial intervention aimed at addressing welfare and operational challenges faced by medical professionals across the country.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that President Bola Tinubu had approved the expedited payment of arrears owed to health workers, including members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
According to him, an additional ₦21.3 billion had been transferred to the IPPIS account, and payment to beneficiaries had commenced. Also, the sum of ₦11.995 billion is being processed for release within 72 hours to settle other outstanding arrears, including the accoutrement allowance.
The robust allocation underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening the health sector and improving service delivery amid ongoing strikes and concerns over unpaid salaries and allowances. The funds will cover outstanding payments, including salaries, allowances, and professional incentives to doctors working in federal and state healthcare facilities.
Healthcare stakeholders have welcomed the disbursement, viewing it as a pivotal step towards stabilizing the sector and curbing the brain drain of medical personnel from Nigeria. Doctors’ unions have been vocal about recurrent issues of delayed payments that adversely affect motivation and morale.
Therefore, the Federal Government also released N10.6 billion in September 2025 for the full payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), benefiting resident doctors nationwide.
The Minister of Health, in a statement, highlighted that the payment is part of a broader strategy to invest in the health workforce, improve working conditions, and ensure uninterrupted medical services to Nigerians. The government has also called on healthcare practitioners to maintain their commitment to patient care amid ongoing reforms.
The ministry also said negotiations are ongoing with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANM) to address all pending welfare issues.
This release follows months of negotiations between the government and medical associations, affirming the government’s resolve to prioritize healthcare funding as critical to national development.
As Nigeria grapples with health sector challenges exacerbated by inadequate funding and workforce shortages, the FG’s ₦433 billion release represents a decisive move to uplift doctors and, by extension, improve healthcare outcomes across the nation.
