Professional bodies in the country are required to start fending for themselves following their exclusion from the Federal government’s budgetary allocation effective January 1, 2024.
Presidential Committee On Salaries (PCS) has recommended their exclusion, a decision the Budget Office of the Federation conveyed to all the bodies in a June 26, 2023 letter signed by its Director-General, Ben Akabueze.
What this means is that the budgetary allocations to all the bodies have ended with the 2023 budget.
In the letter to the Registrar/CEO of the Optometrist & Dispensing Opticians Board and referenced DG/BDT/GEN. CORR/2016/XII/3067, Akabueze disclosed that the recommendation was made at the 13th meeting of the PCS.
The letter titled “Discontinuation of Funding of Professional Bodies and Councils From 2024 Budget, In Line With The Decisions Of The Presidential Committee On Salaries,” further stated that institutions that are to self-fund themselves, have been excluded from the national budget effective from January 1, 2024.
“I wish to inform you that, the Presidential Committee on Salaries, at its 13th meeting, approved the discontinuation of budgetary allocation to Professional Bodies/Councils effective 1 January 2024.
Below is the full list of the professional bodies and councils affected:
*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 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 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
*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
*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.
*Council Of Legal Education – To Remain On Full Treasury Funding
“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 December 31, 2026, to be fully responsible for your personnel, overhead, and capital expenditures.