With effect from December 31, 2026, the Federal Government has authorised the termination of budgetary allocations to professional bodies and councils.
In a letter that our correspondent was able to obtain on Wednesday, the new directive was revealed. It was addressed to the Registrar of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation’s Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology.
The DG/BDT/GEN. CORR/2016/XII/3067 letter, dated June 26, 2023, and signed by the director general, Akabueze Ben, came from the federation’s budget office.
The letter, “Discontinuation of Funding of Professional Bodies and Councils From 2024 Budget, In Line With The Decisions Of The Presidential Committee On Salaries,” added that the institutions were now considered to be self-funded organisations and would henceforth be entirely responsible for their personnel, overhead, and capital expenditures.
The letter stated in part, “I wish to inform you that, effective December 31, 2026, the Presidential Committee on Salaries has approved the discontinuation of budgetary allocation to Professional Bodies/Councils.
The goal of this letter is to let you know that, in accordance with PCS’s directive, this Office will cease making budgetary provisions to your Institution as of the aforementioned date, and you will be regarded as a self-funded organisation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, you shall be fully responsible for your personnel, overhead, and capital expenditures as of December31, 2026.
The letter concluded, “Please accept the assurance of my best regards.”
According to additional research conducted by our correspondent, the new development will have an impact on at least 25 professional bodies and councils that are part of the Ministries of Trade and Investment, Information and Communication, Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, Mines and Steel, Justice, Works and Housing, and the Environment.
These organisations fall under the purview of the Ministry of Education and include the Nigerian Teachers Registration Council, the Computer Registration Council, the Librarians Registration Council, the National Education Research and Development Council, the Mass Literacy Council, the National Examination Council, and the West African Examination Council (Local and International).
The Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Nigerian Pharmacist Council, the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council, and the Nigerian Medical Laboratory Science Council will all be impacted under the Ministry of Health.
Other organisations in Nigeria include the National Automotive Design and Development Council, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, the Nigeria Press Council, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geosciences, the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Survey Council of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council.
