The Federal Government has approved a N50,000 annual ward coat allowance for pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and 17 other categories of allied health professionals in 71 federal tertiary health institutions, with implementation taking effect from 1 June 2026.
The approval was granted by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and conveyed in a circular dated 15 July 2026, signed by the Director of Teaching Hospitals, Okpikpi Okpako, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the approval followed a request by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals for the introduction of a ward coat allowance for its members.
The circular stated, “I am directed to forward the attached letter, Ref. SWC/S/04/S.218/T/147 dated 21st April, 2026, from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission on the above subject, and to convey the Coordinating Minister’s directive for the implementation of the Ward Coat Allowance for eligible Health Professionals in Federal Hospitals, Medical Centres and Clinics in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.”
Allowance takes effect 1 June
The ministry explained that the approval was based on a request submitted by the union in July 2024.
“The NSIWC’s approval for the payment of Ward Coat Allowance is sequel to the request made through letter Ref. C.253/15 dated 23rd July, 2024 from the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals,” it stated.
According to the circular, “The approved allowance is Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) per annum per beneficiary, and it takes effect from 1st June, 2026.”
Beneficiaries include pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, medical social workers, optometrists, physiotherapists, dental therapists, radiographers, dieticians, dental technologists, prosthetic technologists, medical physicists, health information officers, audiologists, nutritionists, medical laboratory technologists, EEG and ECG technologists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and speech therapists.
Hospitals directed to begin implementation
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare directed the management of affected hospitals to commence immediate implementation through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
“Accordingly, all Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors whose institutions are listed in the attachment are hereby directed to commence implementation and payment of the Ward Coat Allowance to all eligible Health Professionals in their respective institutions through the IPPIS platform with effect from 1st June, 2026,” the circular stated.
The ministry clarified that only 71 federal health institutions are covered under the current approval.
“Only the 71 institutions listed in the attached list are to commence the implementation of this allowance for the affected staff, while the remaining 12 institutions whose staff statistics were recently submitted have been forwarded to NSIWC for further necessary action,” it added.
The circular also instructed the heads of the affected institutions to ensure full compliance.
“Kindly ensure strict compliance in accordance with the NSIWC’s approved list,” it stated.
Move addresses long-standing welfare demand
The approval is expected to address one of the long-standing welfare demands of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, which has consistently argued that its members are frontline clinical personnel who wear ward coats and other protective attire while providing patient care but have not enjoyed the same allowances as some other categories of health workers.
The union represents pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, radiographers, dieticians, health information officers, medical social workers, clinical psychologists and other allied health professionals. Over the years, it has engaged the Federal Government on issues relating to remuneration, career progression and improved working conditions.
The ward coat allowance formed part of those demands, with the union maintaining that its members are regularly exposed to occupational hazards in the course of delivering healthcare services.
Part of efforts to retain health workers
The approval also comes amid the Federal Government’s efforts to improve conditions of service in the health sector following the continued migration of Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad.
Thousands of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and other health workers have left Nigeria in recent years in search of better remuneration and improved working conditions, contributing to workforce shortages across many public health facilities.
In response, the Federal Government has introduced several measures aimed at retaining skilled personnel, including periodic salary reviews, implementation of revised allowances, approval of new recruitment into federal health institutions and sustained engagement with professional associations and labour unions to avert industrial actions that have disrupted healthcare delivery.
Although the N50,000 annual ward coat allowance is modest compared with broader demands by health workers, stakeholders say it represents formal recognition of the critical role played by allied health professionals, who constitute a significant proportion of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.
The professionals provide essential services in pharmaceutical care, laboratory diagnosis, rehabilitation, radiography, nutrition, medical records management, clinical psychology and other specialised areas critical to patient care and hospital operations.
Implementation will initially cover 71 federal tertiary health institutions, while the remaining 12 institutions will begin payment after the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission completes verification of staff statistics submitted by the affected hospitals.
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