Chioma Vivian James

Abuja, July 13, 2026 — The Ministry of Defence has clarified the status of allowance payments to House Officers and Interns serving in Armed Forces Reference Hospitals, stating that reports suggesting non-payment of allowances are inaccurate and do not reflect the current situation.

According to the Ministry, the payment of outstanding allowances is already underway, with several disbursements made since March 2026.

The payment schedule is as follows:

• 26 March 2026: Batches A and B received allowances for January and February 2026.
• 30 April 2026: Batches A and B received allowances for March 2026.
• 8 July 2026: Batches A and B received allowances for April 2026, while Batch C received allowances for December 2025 and January 2026.

The Ministry disclosed that efforts are continuing to settle the remaining arrears as additional funds become available.

Explaining the cause of the delay, the Ministry noted that the challenge stemmed from the absence of budgetary allocation for the payment of House Officers’ and Interns’ allowances from January 2026, rather than any administrative lapse. It revealed that it had formally notified the Budget Office of the Federation of the funding shortfall through official correspondence and requested urgent intervention to address the situation.

A total of 703 House Officers and Interns were engaged under the 2025/2026 House Officers and Interns Programme. While Batches A and B have now been paid up to April 2026, Batch C, comprising 90 House Officers and Interns, has received allowances for December 2025 and January 2026.

The Ministry further explained that the outstanding arrears arose because no budgetary provision was made for the House Officers and Interns Programme in the 2026 Appropriation Act—an unprecedented development and the first occurrence since the programme was established.

For more than four decades, the House Officers and Interns Programme has remained a vital component of the Ministry’s healthcare system, playing a critical role in the training of medical professionals who serve both the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the wider healthcare sector.

Reaffirming its commitment to resolving the funding challenge, the Ministry expressed appreciation to affected House Officers, Interns, and their families for their patience, understanding, and continued dedication to service.

The Ministry urged members of the public to disregard misleading reports and rely exclusively on official communications for accurate information regarding the programme and allowance payments.