The Federal Ministry of Defence has clarified the status of allowance payments to House Officers and Interns serving at Armed Forces Reference Hospitals, dismissing reports alleging that affected personnel have not been paid.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary, Richard Pheelangwah, the ministry described the reports as inaccurate, stating that the payment of outstanding allowances has already commenced while efforts continue to settle the remaining arrears.
According to the ministry, the payment schedule includes:
March 26, 2026: Batches A and B received allowances for January and February 2026.
April 30, 2026: Batches A and B were paid March 2026 allowances.
July 8, 2026: Batches A and B received April 2026 allowances, while Batch C was paid allowances for December 2025 and January 2026.
The ministry said additional payments would be made as more funds become available.
It explained that the delay resulted from the absence of a budgetary allocation for the House Officers and Interns Programme in the 2026 fiscal year, rather than any administrative failure by the ministry.
According to the statement, the Ministry of Defence had formally notified the Budget Office of the Federation of the funding gap through official correspondence dated February 18, 2026, and July 1, 2026, requesting urgent intervention.
The ministry disclosed that 703 House Officers and Interns were engaged under the 2025/2026 House Officers and Interns Programme. It noted 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.
The statement further revealed that the outstanding arrears arose because the 2026 Appropriation Act did not make any budgetary provision for the House Officers and Interns Programme, describing the omission as the first of its kind since the programme began more than four decades ago.
The ministry reaffirmed that the programme remains a statutory and strategic component of Nigeria’s military healthcare system, playing a vital role in training medical professionals for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the country.
It also 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 dedication.
The Ministry of Defence urged members of the public to disregard misleading reports and rely only on official communications issued by the ministry regarding the payment of allowances.
