The Federal Government has announced discontinuation of funding from the national treasury for professional bodies and councils in Nigeria.
While the discontinuation will start for some from 2024, others from 2025 and the rest from 2026.
Only two organisations are exempt and are to “remain on Treasury Funding, which are the Environmental Health Officer’s Tutors-Ibadan – “It Is A School, To Remain On Treasury Funding,” and “the Council Of Legal Education – To Remain On Full Treasury Funding.”
This is contained in a memo from the Budget Office of the Federation to the affected bodies, dated June 26, 2023, in line with the decision of the Presidential Committee On Salaries (PCS).
The memo, sent to the Registrars and heads of the affected organisations, was signed by the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, and reads in part:
“I wish to inform you that, the Presidential Committee on Salaries, (PCS) at its 13th meeting approved the discontinuation of budgetary allocation to Professional Bodies/Councils effective 31st December, 2026.
“The purpose of this letter therefore is to inform you that, in compliance with PCS’s directive, this Office will no longer make budgetary provisions to your Institution with effect from the above stated date and, you will be regarded as a self-funded organisation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, you will be required, effective 31st December, 2026 to be fully responsible for your personnel, overhead and capital expenditures.”
Also, some others are to revert their assigned ministries, including the Mass Literacy Council – “Discontinue Budget Funding. To Revert To A Department In The Federal Ministry Of Education Repeal Establishment Act.
“National Council on Climate Change – Discontinue Budget Funding. Relocate To Federal Ministry of Environment. To Exit Budget Funding After 31st December, 2024.
“National Council of Arts and Culture – Discontinue Budget Funding W.E.F 2025. Federal Ministry of Information and Culture To Rationalize The Multiplicity Of Agencies Under The Ministry,” according to the memo.
Professional bodies are establishments responsible for the regulation of members practicing a profession or occupation and maintains oversight of practice and conduct of the knowledge, skills, conduct and practice of that profession or occupation.
…in compliance with PCS’s directive, this Office will no longer make budgetary provisions to your Institution with effect from the above stated date and, you will be regarded as a self-funded organisation.
Below is the list of the affected organisations:
- Nigerian Press Council
- Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON)
- Veterinary Council of Nigeria
- Nigerian Institute of Soil Science (NISS) Hqtrs
- Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria
- Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria
- Council For The Regulation of Freight Forwarding In Nigeria
- Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers And Geosciences
Survey Council of Nigeria - Council For The Regulation of Engineering In Nigeria (COREN)
- Legal Aid Council – To Remain on Full Treasury Funding
- Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria
- Computer Registration Council of Nigeria
- Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria
- Radiographers Registration Board
- Health Records Registration Board
- Optometrist And Dispensing Opticians Board
- Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria
- Institute of Forensics Science Laboratory Oshodi
- Institute of Chartered Chemist of Nigeria
- Nursing And Midwifery Council
- Pharmacist Council of Nigeria Council
- Medical And Dental Council of Nigeria
- Medical Lab. Science Council of Nigeria, Yaba
- Community Health Practitioners Registration Board
- Medical Rehabilitation Therapy Board
- Dental Technologist Registration Board
- Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria
- Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology – “Discontinue Budget Funding After 31st December, 2026.”
- Nigerian Bar Association
- Institute of Chartered Accountants
- Chartered Institute of Administration
- Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria
- Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria
- Institute of Chartered Accountants
- Manufacturers Association of Nigeria
- Nigerian Institute of Architects
- Nigerian Institute of Management
- Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors
- National Teacher’s’ Institute
- Nigerian Medical Association
