The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has commenced discussions with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) on the development of a Sectoral Scheme of Service aimed at strengthening career progression, professionalism and human resource management across the nation’s agricultural research institutions.
Speaking during a preliminary meeting in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, said the proposed scheme is designed to establish a transparent and equitable career framework for staff of the Council, the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and the Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) under its supervision.
Dabban said the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the public service through effective human resource policies.
He noted that the scheme would enhance professionalism, improve staff welfare, promote uniformity in service administration and boost institutional efficiency across the agricultural research system.
He stressed that agricultural research, innovation and capacity development remain critical to achieving national food security, economic diversification and sustainable agricultural development, adding that a modern Scheme of Service would motivate personnel and improve service delivery.
The ARCN Executive Secretary expressed confidence that the engagement would produce practical recommendations for a robust and implementable Scheme of Service that aligns with existing public service regulations while addressing the unique needs of the agricultural research sector.
Representing the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Deputy Director, Job Design and Development, Mr. Gabriel Imirhe, commended ARCN for initiating the process, describing it as a major step towards strengthening institutional capacity and improving career management within the sector.
Imirhe said agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s food security, employment generation, climate resilience and economic diversification, noting that the sector requires career structures that adequately reflect its scientific, technical, professional and administrative responsibilities.
He explained that the proposed Sectoral Scheme of Service would undergo the established approval process to ensure compliance with the Public Service Rules, government policies and existing Schemes of Service in the Federal Public Service.
According to him, the meeting marked the first formal engagement between both institutions to agree on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that will guide the review process before the commencement of a technical field study.
He disclosed that the field exercise would involve consultations with management, researchers, technical officers, administrative personnel, professional bodies and other stakeholders to assess institutional mandates, organisational structures, manpower needs, career progression pathways, competency requirements, professional qualifications and emerging specialisations, while benchmarking against national and international best practices.
Imirhe said the study would provide evidence-based recommendations to support effective manpower planning, institutional efficiency and sustainable career development. He assured ARCN of the OHCSF’s commitment to a transparent and objective process and requested full access to relevant documents and operational records to facilitate a comprehensive assessment.
He added that the review process would culminate in technical evaluations and the submission of recommendations to the appropriate approving authorities in line with established public service procedures.