President Muhammadu Buhari signs the Nigerian Council for Management Development (NCMD) establishment bill into law

The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law the bill establishing the Nigerian Council for Management Development. As contained in the bill, the functions of the NCMD shall be to:

1. Advise the minister on policies, plans and programmes for the enhancement of the number, quality, and effective utilization of the managerial manpower resources of the country in all sectors of the economy
2. Formulate policies and guidelines for the coordination of management education and training activities throughout the country
3. Develop, regulate and promote high national standard of management education entrepreneurial development and supervisory training programmes in line with international standards
4. Accredit every management consultant, trainer or institution with the relevant and requisite qualifications operating within Nigeria
5. Accredit every registered management training firm or institution upon the fulfilment all criteria set by the council
6. Keep and maintain a register of all management consultant, management training institutions, their training programmes, curriculum, location, standard, duration, type and cost
7. Sanction or prohibit any management trainer, consultant, or training institution from commencing, undertaking, carrying on training programmes without accreditation
8. Access periodically the training programmes of management development institutions with a view to determining their competence and
9. To perform any other function as may be necessary to achieve the goals and objectives of the council

Establishment of the Centre for Management Development

The centre for management development shall be the operational arm of the NCMD.

Powers of the Centre

The centre shall perform the following functions:

1. Provide to the council information and other technical data necessary for the Council’s policy making and coordinating functions
2. Undertake management development for small and medium enterprises in the country through the provision of relevant training and extension services
3. Establish and maintain a world class library on management studies
4. Undertake, commission and participate in in-depth research studies and consultancy services in relevant fields
5. Publish journals, research papers and books on modern management and supervisory techniques
6. Promote the development of programmes aimed at improving the performance of private and public enterprises
7. Provide macro and micro economic training programmes to economic planners, budget and project officers at the  Federal, State, Area Councils and Sectoral Levels
8. Undertake training programmes and promotion examinations for the employees of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal, States and Local Governments.
9. In collaboration with the NYSC, provide regular trainings in NYSC Camps
10. Act as a policy laboratory for vigorous and sustained development and promotion of highly specialized skills required for enhancing efficient and effective planning and management of the Nigerian Economy
11. Undertake the development of executive post graduate programmes and Diploma courses for the development of manpower capacity building in Nigeria
12. Conduct examinations and grant certificates in areas of management to persons who have pursued a course of study approved by the council and have satisfied such other requirements as may be prescribed by the council from time to time.
13. Collaborate with similar management training institutions within and outside Nigeria in the execution of its mandate with a view to embracing international standards and
14. Carry out any other duties as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of its function under this bill.

Offences and Penalties

1. Any person who operates as a management consultant or trainer without accreditation from the council commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not less than ₦500,000 (five hundred thousand naira only) or imprisonment for a term not less than 6 months or both
2. Any management development training institution which operates with an unaccredited member of faculty or with substandard equipment, tools or in an unconducive environment commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not less than ₦1,000,000 (one million naira only) or to imprisonment for a term not less than 1 year for every principal of the institution or both.