The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has commenced efforts to develop a Sectoral Scheme of Service for institutions under its supervision in a move aimed at enhancing professionalism, strengthening career progression and promoting uniformity in human resource management across Nigeria’s agricultural research system.
According to an official statement signed by the Public Relations Officer to the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Khadijat O. Ameen, the initiative was the focus of a preliminary meeting between the Council and a delegation from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), convened to begin discussions on the development and approval of a unified Scheme of Service for the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs).
Welcoming the delegation, the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, described the engagement as a significant step towards strengthening human resource administration within the agricultural research sector.
He said the visit reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to building a more efficient public service through sound personnel policies and ensuring that institutions under the Council operate within a transparent, equitable and well-defined career framework.
Dr. Dabban noted that the proposed Scheme of Service would provide an opportunity to review the conditions of service for staff across the Council, National Agricultural Research Institutes and Federal Colleges of Agriculture with the objective of enhancing professionalism, improving staff welfare, ensuring uniformity in service administration and boosting institutional efficiency.
He stressed that agricultural research, innovation and capacity development remain central to achieving national food security, economic diversification and sustainable agricultural development, adding that a motivated workforce supported by clear and modern conditions of service is critical to delivering the Council’s mandate.
The Executive Secretary expressed optimism that the deliberations would produce practical recommendations leading to a robust and implementable Scheme of Service that reflects current realities, aligns with extant Public Service Rules and promotes excellence in service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Deputy Director, Job Design and Development, Mr. Gabriel Imirhe, commended the management of ARCN for initiating the process, describing it as a demonstration of the Council’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing professionalism and improving career management within the agricultural research sector.
He noted that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service recognises agriculture as a strategic sector critical to national food security, economic diversification, employment generation, climate resilience and sustainable development, stressing that the effectiveness of the sector depends largely on the competence, motivation and professionalism of its workforce.
Mr. Imirhe explained that while the request for a Sectoral Scheme of Service deserves careful consideration, any new or revised Scheme of Service within the Federal Public Service must comply with established procedures to ensure equity, transparency, uniformity and alignment with existing government policies and Public Service Rules.
He said the meeting marked the first formal engagement between both institutions and was designed to establish a common understanding of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), methodology, scope and expected outcomes before the commencement of a comprehensive technical field study.
According to him, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service adopts an evidence-based approach in reviewing and developing Schemes of Service. He disclosed that the exercise would involve extensive fieldwork to assess existing manpower structures, operational mandates, professional requirements and functional responsibilities across the Council, National Agricultural Research Institutes and Federal Colleges of Agriculture.
He added that the assessment would include consultations with management, researchers, technical officers, administrative personnel, professional bodies and staff representatives, alongside reviews of organisational structures, statutory mandates, career progression pathways, competency requirements, professional qualifications and emerging specialisations, while benchmarking against international best practices where applicable.
Mr. Imirhe emphasised that the field study is a critical stage of the process, providing the evidence required to develop objective recommendations capable of supporting efficient manpower planning, institutional effectiveness and sustainable career development across the agricultural research system.
He assured the Council of the Office’s commitment to ensuring that every recommendation emerging from the exercise conforms to established standards while addressing the unique needs of the agricultural research sector.
He also appealed for the full cooperation of ARCN, the National Agricultural Research Institutes and the Federal Colleges of Agriculture by granting the assessment team unrestricted access to relevant documents, organisational records and personnel data needed to conduct a comprehensive review.
The Deputy Director explained that upon completion of the field exercise, the findings would undergo rigorous technical evaluation before recommendations are submitted to the appropriate approving authorities in line with extant procedures, noting that the current engagement marks the beginning of a structured process rather than the final approval stage.
