Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has faulted the Steve Oronsaye Report’s recommendation to merge government agencies and commissions, labeling it as outdated.
Falana argued that the report’s suggestions do not ensure a significant reduction in the cost of governance.
His remarks were conveyed in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He added that despite the optimism within official circles, the report fails to adequately address the current realities within the public service, and thus, its implementation may not substantially curtail the exorbitant expenses of governance in the country.
It’s worth noting that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Bola Tinubu, endorsed the full implementation of the Oronsaye report during its session on Monday.
Hadiza Bala Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, stated that this decision aligns with the objective of reducing the cost of governance and enhancing efficiency throughout the governance spectrum.
But Falana said, “No doubt, the implementation of some of the recommendations of the Panel will take appreciable time as the merger of certain bodies require constitutional amendments or repeal of a number of statutes.
“The 800-page report of the Steve Oronsaye Panel recommended the reduction of statutory agencies from 263 to 161, scrapping 38 agencies, merging 52, and reverting 14 to departments in different ministries.
“Since the Goodluck Jonathan administration produced a White Paper on the Steve Oronsaye Report in 2014, the Federal Government has created more ministries, departments and agencies.
“Whereas the Report recommended the reduction of 263 agencies to 151, the number of ministries, departments and agencies has increased to 1316. Even the current administration has increased the number of ministries and created new agencies. To that extent, the Steve Oronsaye Report is completely outdated.
“However, in implementing the Oronsaye Report the Federal Government should ensure that the crisis of insecurity is not compounded through the retrenchment of hundreds of thousands of workers.
“Instead of downsizing the public service the Federal Government should ensure that the two houses of the National Assembly are merged while the number of Ministers, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants is significantly reduced.”
(VANGUARD)
