The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Richard Pheelangwah.
The Ministry of Defence has dismissed reports alleging that House Officers and Interns at the Armed Forces Reference Hospitals have not been paid their allowances, describing the claims as inaccurate and confirming that payment of outstanding arrears has already commenced.
The ministry’s clarification follows a viral video in which a House Officer at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar, who identified himself only as Innocent, alleged that he and his colleagues had worked for about 290 days without receiving their salaries.
In the video, he claimed repeated efforts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful, alleging that their contact person at the ministry could not give a definite timeline for payment.
He also said the prolonged delay had placed severe financial and emotional strain on the affected House Officers and Interns.
