The Federal Government has approved a N50,000 annual ward coat allowance for pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and 17 other categories of allied health professionals in 71 federal tertiary health institutions, with implementation taking effect from June 1, 2026.

The approval, granted by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, was conveyed in a circular dated July 15, 2026, signed by the Director of Teaching Hospitals, Dr Okpikpi Okpako, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate.

The ministry said the approval followed a request by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals for the introduction of a ward coat allowance for its members.

“I am directed to forward the attached letter, Ref. SWC/S/04/S.218/T/147 dated 21st April, 2026, from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission on the above subject, and to convey the Coordinating Minister’s directive for the implementation of the Ward Coat Allowance for eligible Health Professionals in Federal Hospitals, Medical Centres and Clinics in Ministries, Departments and Agencies,” the circular stated.

The ministry explained that the approval was based on a request made by the union in July 2024.

“The NSIWC’s approval for the payment of Ward Coat Allowance is sequel to the request made through letter Ref. C.253/15 dated 23rd July, 2024 from the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals,” it said.

According to the circular, “The approved allowance is Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) per annum per beneficiary, and it takes effect from 1st June, 2026.”

The beneficiaries include pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, medical social workers, optometrists, physiotherapists, dental therapists, radiographers, dieticians, dental technologists, prosthetic technologists, medical physicists, health information officers, audiologists, nutritionists, medical laboratory technologists, EEG and ECG technologists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and speech therapists.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare directed the management of the affected hospitals to begin immediate implementation through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

“Accordingly, all Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors whose institutions are listed in the attachment list are hereby directed to commence implementation and payment of the Ward Coat Allowance to all eligible Health Professionals in their respective institutions through the IPPIS platform with effect from 1st June, 2026,” the circular read.

The ministry, however, clarified that only 71 federal health institutions are covered by the current approval.

“Only the 71 institutions listed in the attached list are to commence the implementation of this allowance for the affected staff, while the remaining 12 institutions whose staff statistics were recently submitted have been forwarded to NSIWC for further necessary action,” it stated.

The circular also instructed the heads of the affected hospitals to ensure full compliance with the directive.

“Kindly ensure strict compliance in accordance with the NSIWC’s approved list,” it added.

The approval is expected to address one of the long-standing welfare demands of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, which has repeatedly argued that its members are frontline clinical personnel who wear ward coats and other protective attire while providing patient care but have not enjoyed the same allowances as some other health workers.

The union, which represents pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, radiographers, dieticians, health information officers, medical social workers, clinical psychologists and other allied health professionals, has over the years engaged the Federal Government on issues bordering on remuneration, career progression and improved working conditions.

The ward coat allowance formed part of those demands, with the union maintaining that its members are exposed to occupational hazards in the course of delivering healthcare services.

The latest approval also comes against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to improve conditions of service in the health sector amid an unprecedented wave of migration of Nigerian health workers.

Thousands of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and other healthcare professionals have left the country in recent years in search of better remuneration and working conditions abroad, contributing to workforce shortages across many public health facilities.

In response, the Federal Government has introduced a series of measures aimed at retaining skilled personnel, including periodic salary reviews, implementation of revised allowances, approval of new recruitment into federal health institutions and sustained engagement with professional associations and labour unions to avert industrial actions that have at various times disrupted healthcare delivery.

Although the N50,000 annual ward coat allowance is modest compared to broader demands by health workers, stakeholders say it represents formal recognition of the critical role played by allied health professionals, who constitute a significant proportion of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.

They provide essential services in pharmaceutical care, laboratory diagnosis, rehabilitation, radiography, nutrition, medical records management, clinical psychology and other specialised areas that are indispensable to patient care and hospital operations.

The implementation will initially cover 71 federal tertiary health institutions, while the remaining 12 institutions will commence payment after the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission concludes verification of staff statistics submitted by the affected hospitals.