The Ministry of Defence has dismissed reports alleging the non-payment of allowances to House Officers and Interns serving in Armed Forces Reference Hospitals, describing the claims as inaccurate and confirming that the payment of outstanding allowances is already underway.
According to an official signed statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwah, the Ministry has commenced the disbursement of outstanding allowances to affected House Officers and Interns, while efforts are ongoing to clear the remaining arrears as additional funds become available.
The statement disclosed that payments were made in phases, with Batches A and B receiving allowances for January and February 2026 on 26 March 2026, followed by March 2026 allowances on 30 April 2026. On 8 July 2026, Batches A and B were paid their April 2026 allowances, while Batch C received allowances for December 2025 and January 2026.
The Ministry explained that the delay was caused by the absence of budgetary allocation for the House Officers and Interns Programme since January 2026, stressing that the situation was not the result of any administrative lapse.
According to the statement, the Ministry had formally notified the Budget Office of the Federation of the funding shortfall through official correspondence dated 18 February and 1 July 2026, requesting urgent intervention to address the challenge.
The statement further revealed that a total of 703 House Officers and Interns were engaged under the 2025/2026 House Officers and Interns Programme. It added 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 covering December 2025 and January 2026.
The Ministry noted that the outstanding arrears resulted from the omission of budgetary provisions for the House Officers and Interns Programme in the 2026 Appropriation Act, describing the development as unprecedented and the first of its kind since the programme was established.
It reaffirmed that the House Officers and Interns Programme has remained a statutory and strategic component of the Ministry’s healthcare system for more than four decades, playing a vital role in training medical professionals for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the country’s health sector.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to resolving the funding challenge and expressed appreciation to the affected House Officers, Interns and their families for their patience, understanding and continued dedication.
It also urged members of the public to disregard misleading reports and rely only on official communications issued by the Ministry of Defence.
