The Ministry of Defence has fired back at viral claims that House Officers and Interns at Armed Forces Reference Hospitals have been abandoned without pay admitting delays but insisting the problem is a budgeting “black hole,” not administrative negligence.
In a fiery statement Monday, Permanent Secretary Richard Pheelangwah confirmed that outstanding arrears are now being paid in phases but revealed the shocking root cause: the 2026 Appropriation Act made ZERO provision for the programme.
This comes after a distressed House Officer at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar, identified only as “Innocent,” went viral with a desperate video claiming he and colleagues had slaved for 290 days without a kobo — and that ministry officials kept giving them the runaround.
What the Ministry Says:
· Payments made so far:
· March 26, 2026 — Jan & Feb allowances (Batches A & B)
· April 30, 2026 — March allowances (Batches A & B)
· July 8, 2026 — April allowances (Batches A & B) + Dec 2025 & Jan 2026 (Batch C)
· Total affected: 703 House Officers and Interns under the 2025/2026 programme
· Batch C (90 personnel) still has outstanding arrears from February 2026 onward
· The real culprit: “No budgetary allocation for the payment of these allowances since January 2026”
· Action taken: The ministry formally begged the Budget Office via letters dated February 18, 2026 and July 1, 2026 for urgent intervention
The Ministry’s Defence:
“This is an unprecedented development and the first occurrence since the inception of the programme over 40 years ago.”
Pheelangwah stressed that the House Officers and Interns Programme is a “statutory and strategic component” of military healthcare and vowed to clear all arrears as funds become available.
He also urged Nigerians to ignore “misleading reports” and rely only on official ministry communications.
The Human Cost:
In the viral video, Innocent painted a grim picture:
· Severe financial strain
· Emotional distress
· Futile efforts to get answers
· No timeline for payment from ministry contacts
What’s Next?
The ministry says payments will continue in tranches as more funds are released — but with no clear date for full clearance, the fate of 90 Batch C interns remains hanging in the balance.
