By Tracy Moses
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted the National Research Development Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2026, to the House of Representatives, seeking to establish a new framework for funding research and development activities in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation seeks to consolidate fragmented research and development funds currently spread across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and establish the National Research Development Fund as a central mechanism through which research agencies and academic institutions can access funding.
In a letter dated August 24, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Tinubu said the proposed fund would promote more efficient use of resources and strengthen coordination within Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem.
The President said the fund would operate as a competitive central funding mechanism aimed at fostering strategic collaboration among research agencies, academia and the private sector.
According to him, the initiative would “catalyze groundbreaking innovations, streamline resource allocation according to strategic national priorities, ensure strict transparency in funding decisions through evaluation criteria, and drive the commercialisation of homegrown technology to reduce foreign technological dependency.”
Under the proposed framework, the National Research Development Fund would 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).
“Going further, the Bill establish National Research Development Fund 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),” Tinubu stated.
The President said the need for a coordinated funding mechanism had become more pressing due to the proliferation of research institutes and agencies operating across the research, development and commercialisation landscape.
He noted that the institutions currently operate under separate mandates and budgetary allocations, making it necessary to improve the management of the limited financial resources available to the sector.
“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.
The proposed fund is expected to provide a coordinated platform for setting research priorities and directing available resources towards areas considered strategically important to national development.
It also seeks to strengthen collaboration between research institutions and the private sector, particularly in translating research findings into commercially viable technologies and products.
Tinubu said the Bill had undergone review and vetting by relevant stakeholders, including the Ministries of Education; Innovation, Science and Technology; and Justice.
He said the process was aimed at ensuring that the proposed legislative framework was consistent with national education objectives and scientific innovation priorities, while providing legal precision, institutional harmony and statutory clarity.
“The Bill has been thoroughly reviewed and vetted by relevant key stakeholders, including the Ministries of Education and Innovation, Science and Technology as well as the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the legislative structure aligns seamlessly with national education objectives, scientific innovation priorities while ensuring legal precision, institutional harmony and statutory clarity,” he stated.
The proposed legislation comes amid the Federal Government’s broader efforts to strengthen research, science and technology as tools for national development.
The administration has repeatedly emphasised the need to improve research funding, strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, and ensure that research outcomes are translated into practical solutions and technologies.
In his letter to the House, Tinubu urged lawmakers to consider the Bill and facilitate its passage into law.
“In consequence of the above, National Research Development Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2026 is hereby forwarded to the House of Representatives for legislative action by the National Assembly,” he said.
The Bill will now undergo the legislative process in the House, including consideration and scrutiny by lawmakers and the relevant committees before further action is taken.
If enacted, the legislation would establish a statutory framework for coordinating research funding and could change how resources are allocated to research institutions and academic bodies involved in science, technology and innovation.