NINETEEN research institutes under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (except colleges of agriculture) will receive N51.66 billion allocation from the federal budget in 2024, but 64.64 percent of the money is going to personnel costs.
Personnel cost covers “total cash compensation, costs of training programs, hiring expenses, severance payments, payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, travel,” says the Law Insider.
The 19 research institutes examined are: Cocoa Research Institute, Rubber Research Institute, National Institute of Freshwater Fish, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training Ibadan, Nigeria Agricultural Extension Research Liason Services Zaria, and Agricultural Research and Management Institute.
Others are: National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation Ilorin, National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi, National Veterinary Research Institute, National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike, National Institute of Oil Palm, Institute of Agricultural Research Zaria, and National Animal Product Research Institute Zaria.
Others also studied include: National Horticultural Research Institute, Nigeria Stored Products Research Ilorin, National Agricultural Seeds Council, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Lake Chad Research Institute Maiduguri, and National Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Abubakar Kyari
Economy Post‘s analysis of the 2024 budget shows that N33.39 billion has been mapped out of their N51.66 billion total budget to pay salaries, cater for travels, refreshment, meals, welfare and other personnel-related issues, representing 64.64 percent of the total expenditure for the year.
By implication, only 35 percent of the budget will be dedicated to scientific research, development of new crop varieties, production of cheap agric equipment, and other scientific breakthroughs in 2024.
An agricultural analyst and lecturer, Dr Chris Mabogunje, descibed the situation as “a familiar route and a reason why agric research institutes will not make much impact in the years to come.”
Pacesetters
There are some research institutes, however, that have shown that there is more to their work than salaries and allowances.
One of such is the National Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research, which mapped out only 32 percent of its budget for salaries. The institute set aside 68 percent of the budget to other critical projects, including research and development.
Similarly, the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation Ilorin, the Nigeria Stored Products Research Ilorin, and the National Agricultural Seeds Council have all allocated only 39 percent of their budgets to personnel costs and others to their basic responsibilities.
Three other institutes have also fared well. They include: the National Agricultural Seeds Council, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, and the Lake Chad Research Institute Maiduguri which allocated 49 percent, 47 percent and 48 percent to personnel costs respectively in their 2024 budgets.
Laggards and their impact
However, there are agricultural institutes that have devoted a lot more funds for their personnel than the basic reasons for which they were created.
First is the Institute of Agricultural Research Zaria, which is committing 87 percent of its budget to personnel costs, setting aside only 13 percent to breakthrough scientific research.
Two others are the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training Ibadan and the National Institute of Oil Palm Research, which dedicated 86 percent of their budgets to personnel costs, leaving merely 14 percent for research and development as well as other minor expenses.
- Agricultural Research and Training Ibadan was established to “research into efficient use and management of soil resources for increased and sustainable agricultural productivity.” It was also established to “research into genetic improvement of kenaf and jute.”
- Economy Post spoke to three medium-sized farmers in Kebbi, Abuja and Ebonyi, but none of them knew the institute, and one, Mr Ahmed Haruna in Kebbi State, described the institute as “only existing on paper.”
- On the other hand, the more visible National Institute of Oil Palm Research was meant “to promote the adoption of improved seed varieties by facilitating easy access to valuable information on released seed varieties and improved agricultural practices.”
- A research entitled, “Factors Affecting Oil Palm Production In Ondo State Of Nigeria,” found that seedlings occupied 17.3 percent of the challenges facing seed farmers in the southwestern state – highest among 7 other issues examined.
- Another research found lack of seedlings in Nigeria as a major problem facing oil palm farmers. The major challenge in the oil palm sector is a lack of high-quality seedlings to produce high-yielding crops, said Dr Mabogunje, earlier quoted.
The Rubber Research Institute and the National Veterinary Research Institute are also culpable, devoting 85 percent of their total budgets to personnel costs.
The Rubber Research Institute was set up to investigate “the genetic improvement, production and processing of rubber and other latex producing plants.” However, the industry is heavily challenged with only very few companies remaining in the sub-sector.
It is not the fault of the institute alone, say analysts, but it is making little effort to overcome the challenge.
President, National Rubber Association of Nigeria, Mr Sunday Kolawole, had told this reporter that rubber trees around the country needed to be replenished.
Economic Confidential quoted Mr Kolawole as saying that Nigeria loses $2billion annually in the rubber industry, owing to farmers’ abandonments of rubber plantations and neglect.
Other institutes whose personnel costs are high include: National Agricultural Extension Research Zaria (82 percent), National Horticultural Research Institute (75 percent), National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi (72 percent), National Animal Product Research Institute Zaria (69 percent), National Institute of Freshwater Fish (67 percent), and National Root Crops Research Institute (61 percent).
Analysts weigh in
Nigeria’s research institutes often complain of inadequate funding to produce quality research. While some experts agree, others believe that it is down to other factors such as corruption, lack of commitment to research, inadequate manpower, among others.
“The truth is that research institutes often want to take good care of themselves with the national budgets,” a statistician, Dr Abel Obiorah, said.
“They tend to rely more on foreign grants and support. Where you find scientific breakthroughs, it is basically because someone somewhere is funding it. I believe that there should be more funding, but the budget should be redesigned in such a way that those funds will go to capital projects, research and development. It is down to those who prepare the budget.”
President, Community Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria, Dr Austin Maduka, told Economy Post that there should be adequate funding but also enough good researchers.
“They always complain of funding. There is also a challenge of personnel, which should be addressed,” he noted.
For Chief Executive Officer, Epina Tecnologies, Prof Patrick Oaikhinan, the challenge was multifarious.
“Most of the employees in our research institutes graduated from institutions where there were no infrastructure for practical learning.
Hence, they lack the basic knowledge for research plan, design, implementation, and reporting,” he said.
He called for proper incentives, motivation, and stability to improve the research institutes across the nation.
“A research infrastructure is necessary, whether it is cutting-edge laboratories, equipment, or ideation space that demands inter-sectoral collaboration.”
Ministry keeps mute
Director of Information, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Joel Oruche, did not respond to a question as to why much of the budget would fund the personnel of the research institutes.
WhatsApp and text messages sent to him were not replied.
