ARCN Begins Process to Establish Unified Career Framework for Agricultural Research Sector

By Harriet Tornguvan 

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has commenced the process of developing a Sectoral Scheme of Service aimed at creating a uniform career structure, strengthening professionalism and enhancing career progression across Nigeria's agricultural research institutions.

The initiative, which is being pursued in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), is expected to provide a comprehensive framework for staff of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs), and the Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) under the Council's supervision.

Speaking during a preliminary meeting held to kick-start discussions on the proposal, the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, described the engagement as a significant step towards strengthening human resource management within the nation's agricultural research system.

Represented in a statement issued by the Council's Public Relations Officer, Khadijat O. Ameen, Dabban welcomed the delegation from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, noting that their presence reflected the Federal Government's commitment to improving public service administration through sound human resource policies.

He said the proposed Sectoral Scheme of Service would promote professionalism, improve staff welfare, ensure uniformity in service administration and enhance institutional efficiency across agricultural research and training institutions.

According to him, agricultural research, innovation and capacity development remain central to achieving national food security, economic diversification and sustainable agricultural development.

"Our workforce remains our greatest asset, and providing clear, fair and contemporary Conditions of Service is essential to motivating staff and enabling them to deliver effectively on the Council's mandate," Dabban said.

He expressed optimism that the deliberations would produce practical recommendations capable of delivering an implementable Scheme of Service that aligns with existing public service rules while addressing the evolving needs of the agricultural research sector.

Speaking on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Deputy Director, Job Design and Development, Mr. Gabriel Imirhe, commended the ARCN for initiating the process, describing it as a demonstration of the Council's commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and improving career management.

Imirhe noted that agriculture remains a strategic pillar for Nigeria's food security, economic diversification, employment generation, climate resilience and sustainable national development, stressing that the sector's success depends largely on a competent and motivated workforce.

He explained that any proposal for a new or revised Scheme of Service must comply with established procedures designed to ensure equity, transparency and consistency with extant Public Service Rules and government policies.

According to him, the meeting marked the first formal engagement between both institutions to outline the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that will guide the development of the proposed framework.

Imirhe disclosed that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service would undertake an extensive field study involving the Agricultural Research Council, the National Agricultural Research Institutes and the Federal Colleges of Agriculture.

He said the assessment would examine institutional mandates, organisational structures, manpower composition, existing career structures, job responsibilities, competency requirements, qualification standards, professional certifications and promotion patterns.

The exercise, he added, would also benchmark Nigeria's agricultural research career framework against international best practices and identify emerging professional specialisations requiring recognition within the proposed Scheme of Service.

Describing the field study as a critical stage of the exercise, Imirhe said the process would provide the evidence required to develop objective recommendations capable of supporting effective manpower planning, institutional efficiency and sustainable career progression.

He appealed for the full cooperation of all institutions under the Council, urging management and staff to provide unrestricted access to relevant documents, staff records, operational manuals and existing Schemes of Service to facilitate a comprehensive assessment.

Imirhe assured stakeholders that the findings from the exercise would undergo rigorous technical evaluation before recommendations are submitted to the appropriate approving authorities in line with established procedures.

He stressed that the preliminary meeting marked the beginning of a systematic process toward developing a sector-specific Scheme of Service for Nigeria's agricultural research system and should not be viewed as the approval stage.