- The Federal Government has approved a N50,000 annual ward coat allowance for 19 categories of allied health professionals across federal health facilities, effective June 1, 2026.
- Issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the implementation will initially cover eligible staff in 71 designated federal tertiary hospitals, medical centers, and clinics.
- The approval follows long-standing agitation by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and aligns with broader federal initiatives to curb brain drain in the health sector.
The Federal Government has formally approved the payment of a N50,000 annual ward coat allowance for pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, and 16 other categories of allied health professionals serving in 71 federal tertiary health institutions.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the directive was conveyed through a circular dated July 15, 2026, signed by the Director of Teaching Hospitals, Dr. Okpikpi Okpako, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate. According to the document, the implementation retroactively takes effect from June 1, 2026.
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The approval followed a formal submission made in July 2024 by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), which advocated for financial recognition of the protective clothing and occupational risks associated with daily clinical duties.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the management of the affected 71 institutions has been instructed to begin immediate disbursement through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health clarified that staff statistics for an additional 12 federal health institutions have been submitted to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for verification before extending the implementation to their personnel.
Stakeholders within the healthcare sector have described the development as a positive step toward improving welfare and boosting morale, particularly amidst ongoing federal efforts to retain skilled healthcare professionals and mitigate foreign brain drain.
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