Section 5: Functions of the Council

The functions of the Council shall be to-(a) advise the Federal Government on national policies and priorities in agricultural research, training and extension activities;
(b) prepare periodic master plans for agricultural research, training and extension and advise the Federal Government on the financial requirement for the implementation of such plans;
(c) ensure the implementation of the approved master plans by the appropriate research institutes, universities and other bodies;
(d) supervise and co-ordinate the research, training and extension activities of research institutes established under section 14 of this Act;
(e) prepare the annual budget for agricultural research, training and extension programmes of the institutes under its aegis and receive grants for allocation to the institutes for the implementation of the annual programmes and to universities and other bodies for special research or training projects;
(f) maintain an up-to-date record of all existing facilities for research, training and extension in the agricultural sciences in Nigeria and advise the Federal Government on their adequacy and efficient utilisation;
(g) advise the Federal Government on the re-organisation of existing institutes, including the creation of new ones, as are required to implement or further the efficiency of research, training and extension in the agricultural sciences;
(h) promote collaboration between scientists engaged in research in the agricultural sciences in Nigeria and their counterparts in other countries or international bodies;
(i) establish and maintain a National Agricultural Science Library and Documentation Centre and publish or sponsor the publication of the research results in the agricultural sciences; and
(j) carry out such activities as may, in the opinion of the Council, further the advancement of research, training and extension in the agricultural sciences.