President Bola Tinubu
Health sector worst hit, as FG to discontinue funding of 30 professional bodies, MDAs
Federal Government has notified some professional bodies, as well as councils of its intention to discontinue funding for their activities by way of budgetary allocations.
Of the over 30 professional bodies listed for discontinuation of the funding by the Federal Government, those in the medical practice topped the list, as bodies including the nursing, pharmacists, laboratory, dentistry, research fields are affected.
Other affected bodies are from the education, arts and culture sectors.
The direct effect of this directive is that renewal of practicing license issued by these professional bodies to their members is set to increase, while fees charged by the councils for services will also rise on the account of funding.
In a memo to one of the affected councils dated June 26, 2023, the Budget Office of the Federation said the move was in line with the decision of the Presidential Committee On Salaries (PCS).
The memo in circulation was signed by the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze.
Funding would be stopped for at least 30 of the professional bodies and councils by December 2024 whilst budgetary allocations would be stopped for other bodies by December 2026.
“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,” the memo read.
Full list of the professional bodies and councils affected include: (A) Those whose funding would be stopped by December 2024:
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.
Others are: Health Records Registration Board; Optometrist And Dispensing Opticians Boar; 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 Laboratory Science Council Of Nigeria, Yaba; Community Health Practitioners Registration Board; Medical Rehabilitation Therapy Board; Dental Technologist Registration Board; Environmental Health Registration Council Of Nigeria; 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).
(B)Those whose funding would be stopped by December 2026 include:
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); Nigerian Council Of Food Science And Technology (Discontinue Budget Funding After 31st December, 2026); 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).
