Defence Ministry Addresses Delayed Allowances for Interns

The Ministry of Defence has stated that a funding gap is responsible for the delayed payment of allowances to house officers at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital in Calabar. This clarification follows a viral video alleging that a colleague worked for 290 days without receiving salary.

The ministry confirmed that payments for outstanding arrears have already begun, with the first tranche made on March 26, 2026, covering January and February allowances. Subsequent payments are scheduled for April 30, 2026, and July 8, 2026.

The delays were attributed to the absence of budgetary allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act, not administrative failure. The ministry noted that a total of 703 house officers are engaged in the 2025-2026 program, with batch B payments made in April 2026 and batch C comprising 90 house officers to receive allowances for December 2025 and January 2026.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to resolving the funding challenges and urged the public to disregard misleading reports.