By Gloria Ikibah
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted two bills to the House of Representatives seeking to amend the law governing the National Postgraduate Medical College and establish a National Research Development Fund to streamline research financing in Nigeria,.
The two bills were contained in separate letters dated August 24, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and received by the House on September 24.
In the first letter, titled “Transmission of National Postgraduate Medical College (Amendment) Bill, 2026 for Passage into Law”, Tinubu asked lawmakers to consider amendments to the legislation governing the institution.
According to the President, the proposed amendment would, among other things, reflect the change in the institution’s name and expand its mandate to allow it to award Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Clinical Medicine, Dentistry and related fields.
He said the Federal Ministry of Justice had vetted and finalised the Bill in line with drafting standards and constitutional provisions.
Tinubu urged the House to consider and pass the Bill into law, saying it was being transmitted to the National Assembly for legislative action.
In the second letter, titled “Transmission of National Research Development Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2026 for Passage into Law”, the President said the proposed legislation was intended to consolidate research financing and ensure more efficient use of available resources.
He explained that the Bill will bring fragmented research and development funds across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under a central National Research Development Fund.
The fund, he said, would provide a mechanism through which research agencies and academic institutions could access funding.
According to Tinubu, the proposed fund would operate as a competitive central funding mechanism to promote collaboration among research agencies, academic institutions and the private sector.
He said the initiative would also support innovation, improve the allocation of research resources in line with national priorities, promote transparency in funding decisions and facilitate the commercialisation of locally developed technologies.
The President proposed that the National Research Development Fund be established as an agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, with direct funding from the Nigeria Content Development Fund (NCDF).
He said the legislation was necessary because of the proliferation of research institutes and agencies operating in Nigeria’s research, development and commercialisation space, each with separate mandates and budgetary allocations.
Tinubu said a central funding mechanism would enable more effective management of the limited financial resources available to research institutes and agencies.
He added that the Bill had been reviewed by relevant stakeholders, including the Ministries of Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, and Justice.
The review, he said, was intended to ensure that the proposed legislation aligned with national education objectives, scientific innovation priorities and existing legal and institutional frameworks.
Both bills were subsequently transmitted to the House of Representatives for legislative consideration and action.
