Federal Government Approves N50,000 Ward Coat Allowance for Allied Health Workers in NG

• The Federal Government has approved a N50,000 annual ward coat allowance for allied health professionals in 71 federal tertiary health institutions.
• The approval takes effect from June 1, 2026, and is expected to address one of the long-standing welfare demands of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals.
• Implementation will be through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, with affected hospitals required to ensure full compliance with the directive.

The approval follows a request made by the union in July 2024 and takes effect from June 1, 2026.

The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals has been advocating for a ward coat allowance for its members, who are frontline clinical personnel responsible for providing patient care while wearing protective attire. The union's efforts have finally borne fruit with the Federal Government's approval of a N50,000 annual ward coat allowance for 71 federal tertiary health institutions. This development is expected to address one of the long-standing welfare demands of the union, which has repeatedly argued that its members are entitled to the same allowances as other health workers. The approval follows a request made by the union in July 2024 and takes effect from June 1, 2026.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has directed the management of affected hospitals to begin immediate implementation through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System. The ministry has clarified that only 71 federal health institutions are covered by the current approval, with the remaining 12 institutions whose staff statistics were recently submitted awaiting further action from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. Heads of affected hospitals have been instructed to ensure full compliance with the directive, which includes implementing the allowance through the IPPIS platform starting June 1, 2026.

The approval of a ward coat allowance is a significant development for allied health professionals in federal hospitals. The allowance is expected to provide some relief to these frontline clinical personnel who have been advocating for better working conditions and welfare packages. However, the implementation of this directive may require affected hospitals to review their payroll systems and ensure compliance with the new directive, which could impact their financial planning and budgeting for the upcoming fiscal year.

This development may require affected hospitals to review their payroll systems and ensure compliance with the new directive, which could impact their financial planning and budgeting for the upcoming fiscal year.

Source: Original reporting via [Source]