Defence Ministry Explains Delay in House Officers’ Allowances, Says Payments Underway
Oru Leonard
The Federal Ministry of Defence has dismissed reports alleging that House Officers and Interns at Armed Forces Reference Hospitals have not been paid their allowances, clarifying that payment of outstanding entitlements is already in progress.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry said several batches of allowances have been paid in phases, with the latest disbursement made on July 8, 2026, covering April 2026 allowances for Batches A and B, as well as December 2025 and January 2026 allowances for Batch C.
According to the Ministry, earlier payments were made on March 26, 2026, for January and February allowances, and on April 30, 2026, for March allowances for Batches A and B.
The Ministry explained that the delay in settling the remaining arrears was caused by the absence of budgetary allocation for the House Officers and Interns Programme in the 2026 Appropriation Act, describing the situation as unprecedented and the first of its kind since the programme was established.
It disclosed that it had formally notified the Budget Office of the Federation about the funding shortfall through official correspondence dated February 18 and July 1, 2026, requesting urgent intervention to address the challenge.
The statement revealed that 703 House Officers and Interns were engaged under the 2025/2026 programme. While Batches A and B have received allowances up to April 2026, Batch C, comprising 90 House Officers and Interns, has so far been paid for December 2025 and January 2026.
The Ministry assured that efforts are ongoing to clear the outstanding arrears as additional funds become available.
It reaffirmed that the House Officers and Interns Programme has remained a statutory and strategic component of the Armed Forces healthcare system for over four decades, playing a vital role in training medical professionals for both the military and the nation.
The Ministry expressed appreciation to the affected House Officers, Interns and their families for their patience and understanding, while urging the public to disregard misleading reports and rely only on official information released by the Ministry of Defence.
