The Federal Government has begun paying long-awaited salary arrears owed to medical professionals under the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), bringing relief to members of the medical community.
The development was confirmed by the Publicity and Social Secretary of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim, who informed members in a notice that the payments had started rolling out.
According to him, the arrears—covering between one and six months for affected doctors—are currently being disbursed, with many beneficiaries already receiving alerts.
“The leadership of NARD is pleased to inform all members that payment of the outstanding 25/35 CONMESS review arrears has commenced,” the statement read.
Dr. Ibrahim added that while most payments were being processed smoothly, some members were yet to receive theirs due to ongoing administrative procedures. He assured that all outstanding sums would be settled in due course and urged affected doctors to remain patient.
He also noted that the August portion of the arrears was experiencing minor administrative delays, which could push payments back by about one to two weeks.
“The August arrears are currently facing some challenges being addressed, and this may result in a slight delay of one to two weeks,” he explained.
The CONMESS adjustment, which determines salary structures for doctors and dentists in Nigeria’s public health sector, has long been a contentious issue between medical professionals and the government.
Delays in implementing the reviewed salary scale and clearing arrears have repeatedly triggered tensions and industrial actions by NARD, often affecting services in public hospitals.
Resident doctors, who play a critical role in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system, have continued to raise concerns over welfare, unpaid entitlements, poor working conditions, and increasing migration of medical personnel abroad.
Health sector analysts warn that the ongoing brain drain has significantly worsened Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio, placing additional strain on an already overstretched healthcare system.
The latest payment exercise is seen as a positive step toward addressing longstanding welfare concerns and reducing the risk of renewed industrial unrest.
Dr. Ibrahim further advised members with unresolved payment issues to report through their respective centre leadership for prompt resolution, while assuring that the association remains committed to protecting doctors’ welfare.
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