The Ministry of Defence has dismissed reports alleging that House Officers and Interns at the Armed Forces Reference Hospitals have not been paid their allowances, insisting that the claims are inaccurate and confirming that payment of outstanding arrears has already commenced.
The ministry said the delay in payment was caused by the absence of budgetary allocation for the programme in the 2026 Appropriation Act, rather than any administrative failure.
Responding in a statement issued on Monday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwah, said payments were being made in phases while efforts continued to clear the remaining arrears as more funds become available.
“The Ministry of Defence has noted reports alleging the non-payment of allowances to House Officers and Interns at Armed Forces Reference Hospitals. These claims are inaccurate. Payment of outstanding allowances has commenced,” the statement read.
The clarification followed a viral video in which a House Officer at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar, identified simply as Innocent, alleged that he and his colleagues had worked for about 290 days without receiving their salaries.
In the video, he claimed repeated attempts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful, alleging that officials at the ministry could not provide a definite timeline for payment.
He also said the prolonged delay had placed severe financial and emotional strain on affected House Officers and Interns.
Payment schedule
The ministry outlined the payments already made:
- 26 March 2026: January and February allowances for Batches A and B.
- 30 April 2026: March allowances for Batches A and B.
- 8 July 2026: April allowances for Batches A and B, as well as December 2025 and January 2026 allowances for Batch C.
Budget omission caused delay
According to the ministry, the outstanding arrears resulted from the failure to make budgetary provisions for the House Officers and Interns Programme in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
“The delay is attributable to the absence of budgetary allocation for the payment of these allowances since January 2026 and not to any administrative lapse on the part of the ministry,” the statement said.
The ministry disclosed that it formally notified the Budget Office of the Federation of the funding gap through official correspondence dated 18 February 2026, and 1 July 2026, requesting urgent intervention.
Over 700 interns affected
The ministry said a total of 703 House Officers and Interns were engaged under the 2025/2026 House Officers and Interns Programme.
It explained that Batches A and B have now been paid up to April 2026, while Batch C, comprising 90 House Officers and Interns, has received allowances for December 2025 and January 2026.
Describing the situation as unprecedented, the ministry said it was the first time the programme had been omitted from the national budget since its inception.
Commitment to resolving funding challenge
The ministry emphasised that the House Officers and Interns Programme has remained a vital part of the military healthcare system for more than four decades.
“For over four decades, the House Officers and Interns Programme has remained a statutory and strategic component of the ministry’s healthcare system, contributing significantly to the training of medical professionals for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation at large,” the statement added.
Mr Pheelangwah reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to resolving the funding challenge and thanked the affected House Officers, Interns and their families for their patience and understanding.
He also urged members of the public to disregard misleading reports and rely only on official communications issued by the Ministry of Defence.
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