President Bola Tinubu has transmitted the National Research and Development Fund (Establishment) Bill 2026 to the Senate for consideration and passage into law.

Mr Tinubu,​‌⁠​‍‍⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‍⁠‌‍‌​ in a letter addressed to the Senate President Godswill Akpabio at plenary on Tuesday, said the bill sought to consolidate research financing and ensure more efficient utilisation of resources.

“I am pleased to transmit to the Senate, for consideration, the National Research and Development Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2026.

“The bill is prepared in a bid to consolidate research financing and ensure more efficient utilisation of resources.

“It will consolidate the fragmented Research and Development Funds across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) into the National Research and Development Fund to serve as a central mechanism which research agencies and academic institutions can access funding,” the letter read in part.

According to Mr Tinubu, the establishment of the fund will serve as a competitive central funding mechanism to foster strategic collaboration among research agencies, academia and the private sector.

He said that the fund would catalyse ground-breaking innovations and streamline resource allocation based on strategic national priority.

Mr Tinubu further stated that the bill would ensure strict transparency in funding decisions through evaluation criteria and drive the commercialisation of home-grown technology to reduce foreign technological dependency.

According to him, the bill also seeks to establish National Research and Development Fund as an agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, with direct funding from the Nigerian Content Development Fund.

“It is pertinent to note that with the current proliferation of research institutions and agencies operating within the research and development commercialisation landscape, each agency operates with a separate mandate and budgetary allocations.

“The bill therefore seeks to enable effective management of the limited financial resources available to these institutes and research agencies for the efficient development of science, technology and innovation in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the bill had been thoroughly reviewed and vetted by relevant key stakeholders, including the ministries of education, innovation, science and technology and justice.

He said that the review was to ensure that the legislative structure aligned seamlessly with national education objectives and scientific innovation priorities, while ensuring legal precision, institutional harmony and statutory clarity.

“In consequence of the above, the National Research and Development Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2026 is hereby forwarded to the senate for legislative action by the National Assembly.

“It is my hope that the Senate will consider the bill and its passage into law expeditiously,” Mr Tinubu said.

(NAN)