Federal Government Approves ₦50,000 Annual Ward Coat Allowance for Allied Health Workers

The Federal Government has approved the payment of a ₦50,000 annual ward coat allowance for eligible allied health professionals working in 71 federal tertiary health institutions across Nigeria.

The approval, which takes effect from June 1, 2026, was granted by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and communicated through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

According to the ministry, the allowance was introduced following a request by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), which had advocated for improved welfare for its members since 2024.

Health workers who will benefit from the new allowance include pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, radiographers, optometrists, dieticians, nutritionists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, clinical psychologists, health information officers, medical social workers, dental therapists, dental technologists, prosthetic technologists, medical physicists, audiologists, medical laboratory technologists, and EEG/ECG technologists.

The ministry directed all Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of the affected institutions to begin implementing the payment immediately through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

Officials clarified that only 71 federal health institutions are covered in the first phase of the programme. An additional 12 institutions will be included after the NSIWC completes verification of their staff records.

The ward coat allowance is expected to address one of the long-standing welfare demands of allied health professionals, who say they face occupational risks while providing essential clinical and diagnostic services but have not enjoyed the same benefits as some other healthcare workers.

The approval also forms part of the Federal Government's broader efforts to improve working conditions and retain skilled healthcare professionals amid the continued migration of Nigerian medical personnel to other countries in search of better opportunities.

Although the ₦50,000 annual allowance is relatively modest, stakeholders believe it represents official recognition of the vital contributions made by allied health professionals to healthcare delivery across Nigeria.

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