The Federal Government has granted its approval for the payment of an accoutrement allowance of twenty-five thousand naira (N25,000:00) per quarter to medical and dental doctors working in hospitals, medical centres, and clinics within the Federal Public Service. This decision was conveyed through a circular dated July 26, 2023, titled “Accoutrement Allowance for Medical and Dental Doctors in Hospitals, Medical Centres, and Clinics in Federal MDAs.”
The circular, signed by Ekpo Nta, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, states that the allowance will be paid from the overhead budget and will take effect from June 1, 2023.
The approval comes in the wake of a review of the health sector salary structures, resulting in the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, approving the review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health professionals in the Federal Public Service, effective from June 1, 2023.
The circular, which includes the new salary table as Annex I, addresses all enquiries regarding this decision to the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission.
The release of this circular regarding the accoutrement allowance may be seen as a response to the ongoing indefinite strike initiated by members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The payment of this allowance is likely to address some of the concerns raised by the striking medical professionals and may have implications for resolving the current impasse in the health sector.
