The Ministry of Defence has refuted recent reports claiming that House Officers and Interns at Armed Forces Reference Hospitals have not received their allowances, labeling the allegations as inaccurate.
According to the ministry, payment of outstanding arrears has already begun, and the delay was due to the lack of a specific budgetary allocation for the programme in the 2026 Appropriation Act, not administrative lapses.
This clarification comes after a viral video featured a House Officer at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital in Calabar identified only as Innocent who alleged that he and his colleagues had worked for approximately 290 days without pay and that efforts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful.
He added that the delay had caused significant financial and emotional hardship for the affected staff.
In a statement released on Monday by the Permanent Secretary, Richard Pheelangwah, the ministry explained that payments have been made in stages and that efforts are ongoing to clear all outstanding arrears as additional funds become available. Specifically, the ministry noted that the first payment, covering January and February allowances for Batches A and B, was made on March 26, 2026.
Subsequent payments were made on April 30, 2026, for March allowances and on July 8, 2026, for April allowances for Batches A and B, as well as December 2025 and January 2026 allowances for Batch C.
The ministry emphasized that the payment delays stemmed solely from the absence of budgetary provision for the programme in the 2026 Appropriation Act a situation it described as unprecedented since the programme’s inception.
Official correspondence was sent to the Budget Office of the Federation on February 18 and July 1, 2026, requesting urgent intervention to address the funding gap.
Out of 703 House Officers and Interns engaged under the 2025/2026 programme, Batches A and B have now been paid up to April 2026, while Batch C, which includes 90 members, has received payments for December 2025 and January 2026.
The ministry highlighted the programme’s vital role in military healthcare for over four decades, contributing significantly to the training of medical professionals for the Armed Forces and the nation.
Reaffirming its commitment to resolving the issue, the ministry expressed appreciation for the patience and dedication of the affected medical personnel and their families. It also urged the public to disregard misleading reports and rely solely on official communications from the Ministry of Defence.
