The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the discontinuation of budgetary allocations to professional bodies and councils starting from December 31, 2026. The directive was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Registrar of the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The letter, signed by the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Akabueze Ben, stated that the institutions would now be considered self-funded organizations. They will be responsible for their own personnel, overhead, and capital expenditures.
The letter explained that the decision was in line with the directives of the Presidential Committee on Salaries, which approved the discontinuation of budgetary allocations to professional bodies and councils. The change is aimed at reducing the cost of governance and promoting self-sustainability among these organizations.
Several professional bodies and councils under different ministries will be affected by this decision, including those under the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Mines and Steel, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Works and Housing, and Ministry of Environment. Some of the affected organizations include the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Nigeria Press Council, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, and the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, among others.
The discontinuation of budgetary allocations to these professional bodies and councils is part of the government’s efforts to address the country’s debt sustainability concerns and reduce the debt service to revenue ratio, which currently exceeds the recommended threshold. By shifting the financial responsibility to these organizations, the government aims to streamline its expenditures and promote more efficient financial management.
