** Says Tinubu Showed Uncommon Courage
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recommendations on Monday, to President Bola Tinubu, to implement the Steve Oronsaye panel on the restructuring and rationalisation of Federal agencies, parastatals and commissions, have been described as commendable.
Hailing President Bola Tinubu for accepting the Council’s recommendations, former Chief of Staff to the Imo State government under Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Unche Nwosu, commended the President “for confronting headlong, the delay in the implementation of the recommendations.”
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Nwosu said “That the President accepted the advice of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is indicative of a cerebral and decisive leadership poised to return Nigeria on the path of growth by cutting the cost of governance.
“FEC’s decision is informed by the need to enhance efficiency in the Federal service and reduce the cost of governance, while also ensuring national growth, & development.
“I believe strongly that the President’s position would bring to an end, the delay in activating the spirit of the document which was submitted in 2012 to the Jonathan administration. In 2014, the Jonathan government released a white paper on the report.
“The Buhari administration, after re-examining the white paper, also released a second white paper in August 2022 but did not implement the report.
“Next, I expect the eight-man committee, which has a 12-week deadline to ensure that the necessary legislative amendments and administrative restructuring needed to implement the reforms are effected in an efficient manner, hits the ground running.
No doubt, Nigeria operates one of the world’s most bloated federal civil service, and only visionary leadership in the class of President Tinubu could have faced the rhythm and taken the Bull by the horn to do what the FEC has recommended, in the interest of all.”
Recall that FEC, in order to enhance efficiency in the Federal service and reduce the cost of governance, decided to implement the recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye panel on the restructuring and rationalisation of Federal agencies, parastatals and commissions.*
A statement by the Presidency said that “The implementation involves merging, subsuming and scrapping agencies with similar functions.
“The Oronsaye report was submitted in 2012 to the Jonathan administration. In 2014, the Jonathan government released a white paper on the report. The Buhari administration, after re-examining the white paper, also released a second white paper in August 2022 but did not implement the report.
“However, the Tinubu administration has decided to confront the monster of high governance cost by implementing elements of the report.
“An eight-man committee has a 12-week deadline to ensure that the necessary legislative amendments and administrative restructuring needed to implement the reforms are effected in an efficient manner.
“The committee comprises Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of the Civil Service, Attorney General and Justice Minister, Budget and Planning Minister, DG Bureau of Public Service Reform, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Special assistant to the president on National Assembly. The Cabinet Affairs Office will serve as the secretariat.
“Key recommendations for implementation:
“National Salaries, Income and wages Commission to be subsumed under Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission. The National Assembly will need to amend the constitution as RMAFC was established by the constitution.
“Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission to be merged with Bureau of Public Enterprise and be rechristened as `Public Enterprises and Infrastructural Concession Commission.
“National Human Rights Commission to swallow Public Complaints Commission
“Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate(PTAD) to be scrapped and functions to be taken over by Federal Ministry of Finance.
“NEMA and the National Commission for Refugees to be fused to become the National Emergency and Refugee Management Commission.
“Border Communities Development Agency to become a department under National Boundary Commission
“NACA and NCDC to be merged
“SERVICOM to become a department under the Bureau for Public Service Reform(BPSR).
“NALDA will return to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
“Federal Ministry of Science to supervise a new agency that combines NCAM, NASENI and PRODA.
“The National Commission for Museums and Monuments and the National Gallery of Arts will become one entity known as the National Commission for Museums, Monuments and Gallery of Arts.
“National Theatre to be merged with National Troupe.
“Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa and Directorate of Technical Aid Corp to be merged under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to become an agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Federal Radio Corporation and Voice of Nigeria to be one entity to be known as Federal Broadcasting Corporation of Nigeria
“National Biotechnology Development Agency(NABDA) and the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology to emerge into an agency known as the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency(NBRDA).
“The National Institute for Leather Science Technology and the National Institute for Chemical Technology will become one agency.
“Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development will become one agency.
“The National Metallurgical Development Centre and National Metallurgical Training Institute will be merged.
“National Institute for Trypanosomiasis to be subsumed under the Institute of Veterinary Research in Vom, Jos,” among others.
