The ₦43 billion payout followed stalled negotiations, rising strike threats, and pressure from resident doctors who said earlier assurances were “all promises, no payment.”
By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
The Federal Government’s sudden release of more than ₦43 billion in accumulated arrears to doctors and other health workers was driven by a breakdown in negotiations and the risk of another nationwide strike across federal hospitals, officials and union representatives confirmed on Thursday.
Before the funds were cleared, talks between the Ministry of Health and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) had reached a deadlock, prompting the government to fast-track payment that had been pending for months. The arrears include ₦10 billion released in August, ₦21.3 billion moved into the government payroll system on October 30, and another ₦11.995 billion expected within 72 hours for outstanding allowances.
Government officials said the move is part of a wider plan to stabilise the health sector, which has been strained by mass medical migration and workload pressure. A total of 20,000 health workers were hired in 2024, and another 15,000 have already been approved for recruitment in 2025 to replace those leaving the country.
“Our health workforce is the bedrock of Nigeria’s healthcare reform,” the Ministry stated, adding that industrial peace remains a priority.
However, resident doctors and allied unions insist the arrears payment resolves only one part of the dispute. Outstanding issues include the reclassification of postgraduate medical certificates by the Medical and Dental Council, delayed promotions, pension concerns, and the dismissal of doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja.
To restart discussions, the government has appointed industrial relations expert Prof. Dafe Otobo to mediate between unions and the Ministry after earlier talks failed to reach agreement.
Federal hospitals remain open for now, but union leaders warn that if unresolved matters are not addressed quickly, fresh industrial action is still possible, meaning the payment may have paused, not ended, the crisis.
