By Uche Mbah
Details are emerging on the plans of the government implementation of the Oronsaye report, which recommended the merger of some parastatals with others, and the scrapping of some. At the last count, more than seven major agencies may be scrapped.
Some of the agencies that may be affected are the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, National Poverty Eradication Program, Utilities Charges Commission, National Economic Intelligence Committee, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, National Hajj Commission, and Federal Road Safety Commission.
The 103-page white paper called for a repeal of the Acts establishing these Commissions.
Already President Buhari has directed his Secretary to the government, Boss Mustapha, the head of Service, Folashade Yemi Esan, to implement the recommendations.
The recommendations have been on his table for the last five years. Critics have not failed to point out that the order came almost immediately after the death of the late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. But the reason given for the order was that it will serve to prune down the cost of governance in this COVID 19 pandemic era.
“It has reviewed the whole of the size of government and has made very significant recommendations in terms of reducing the number of agencies and that would mean merging some agencies.
“This is a report that has been in place for a long time and there hasn’t been implementation but the president has approved that this should be implemented and we have conveyed Mr. President’s approval to the arms of government that are responsible for this and that will be the office of the secretary of government and the head of the civil service of the federation”, said Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance
Functions of the Pilgrims Board and Haj Commission are to be taken over by the Ministry of Foreign affairs.
The Goodluck Jonathan government ha rejected this part of the recommendation, but it is not clear what the position of the government is on this.
