President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking approval to establish a National Research and Development Fund.
The President’s letter was read on the floor of the Senate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio following the resumption of plenary after a nine-week recess.
Tinubu said the National Research and Development Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2026, is aimed at consolidating fragmented research and development funds across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) into a single central mechanism.
According to the letter, the fund would serve as a competitive central funding platform through which research agencies and academic institutions can access resources more efficiently.
“The establishment of the National Research and Development Fund will serve as a competitive central funding mechanism. It seeks to foster strategic collaboration among research agencies, academia and the private sector.
"It will catalyse groundbreaking innovations, streamline resource allocation according to strategic national priorities, ensure strict transparency in funding decisions through evaluation criteria, and drive the commercialisation of home-grown technology to reduce foreign technological dependency,” the President stated.
The bill proposes that the fund operate as an agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, with direct funding from the Nigerian Content Development Fund.
Tinubu noted that the proliferation of research institutions and agencies, each operating with separate mandates and budgets, made better coordination necessary to manage limited financial resources effectively for the development of science, technology and innovation in Nigeria.
He said the bill had been thoroughly reviewed and vetted by key stakeholders, including the Ministries of Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, and Justice, to ensure alignment with national education and scientific priorities.
The President urged the Senate to consider and pass the bill expeditiously. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
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