The institution, however, assured affected interns that all outstanding arrears would be paid once funding improves.
The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has attributed the prolonged withholding and partial payment of interns’ salaries to a shortfall in personnel subvention released by the Nigerian government under the 2025 Appropriated Budget.
The institution, however, assured affected interns that all outstanding arrears would be paid once funding improves.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the interns accused the management of the institution of failing to pay several months of their salaries and allowances, despite the completion of their internship programme.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, the affected interns said they began their internship in February 2025 with an agreed monthly stipend of ₦220,000.
According to them, interns in federal hospitals are not paid for their first three months, with the expectation that the accumulated salaries would be paid from the fourth month.
But responding to enquiries by SaharaReporters on the Interns' allegations regarding the unpaid and prorated salaries, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services Department, Oluwakemi Fasoto, said management had been handling the situation “in good faith” despite severe financial constraints.
According to Fasoto, the salary crisis began after funds released by the Nigerian Government fell short of what was appropriated in the 2025 budget to cover interns’ full monthly emoluments.
“The lingering salaries issue with interns is being financially managed in good faith by the Management,” Fasoto said.
“The challenge began when the personnel subvention released by the Federal Government fell short of the amount appropriated in the 2025 budget to pay interns’ full salaries.”
She explained that to avoid discrimination or selective payment among interns, management adopted a uniform approach of prorating salaries monthly based on available funds.
“To forestall selective payment among interns or skipping entire months, Management adopted a fair approach by prorating salaries monthly based on the funds available,” Fasoto stated, adding that interns were duly informed of the arrangement.
Providing details on recent payments, the OAUTHC spokesperson said that the December 2025 salary was paid at 95 per cent, with the outstanding balance already computed and processed.
“The latest salary payment for December 2025 was made at 95%, with the remaining balance already calculated, processed, updated, and submitted for payment alongside December salaries,” she said.
“This balance will be disbursed as soon as improved funding is received from the Federal Government.”
Fasoto further assured that interns who may have completed their programmes would not be excluded from the arrears payments.
“Importantly, even interns who may have completed their programme will still receive all outstanding payments in full in line with standard practice,” she said.
Addressing concerns that the hospital was deliberately withholding salaries, Fasoto emphasised that OAUTHC operates strictly within federal financial regulations and does not independently control personnel funds.
“It is important to emphasise that OAUTHC pays strictly in line with Federal norms based on releases,” she noted.
“Like other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the Hospital does not have access to, nor does it warehouse, personnel funds. All disbursements are dependent on releases from the Federal Government.”
She added that management had made repeated efforts to engage relevant authorities, including officials at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) and the hospital’s Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) officer, to resolve the issue.
“The Management has made every necessary effort to interact with relevant officials at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) and our GIFMIS Officer,” Fasoto said.
“We have done our utmost despite the ongoing total industrial strike, which has hampered operations nationwide.”
The hospital also maintained that interns had not been ignored throughout the period of delayed payments, claiming that several meetings and communications had been held to keep them informed.
“At no time has the plight of interns been ignored,” Fasoto said. “Several official and non-official meetings and dialogues have been held with interns to keep them informed.
“In addition, Management has consistently issued memos, almost monthly, to persuade, appease, and appeal for patience while awaiting improved funding.”
She expressed appreciation for what she described as the “professionalism and understanding” shown by the interns during the difficult period.