Victor EzejaFormer Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concerns about the rising cost of governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Atiku posed a question about the president’s silence on implementing the Stephen Oronsaye Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa recalls that the Federal Executive Council had on 26th February 2024, approved the implementation of the recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye report.
The Committee chaired by Steve Oronsaye, former Head of Service of the Federation had recommended reducing statutory agencies from 263 to 161; 38 agencies be scrapped and 52 be merged and 14 be reverted to departments. The report was submitted in 2012 to the Goodluck Jonathan administration but past governments have failed to implement it.
Tinubu’s government said the implementation of the policy involves merging, subsuming and scrapping of agencies with similar functions as part of measures to reduce the cost of governance and enhance efficiency in the federal civil service.
The announcement of the Federal Government’s intention to implement the report was trailed by mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some said it would reduce the cost of governance and promote efficiency, others argued that it could lead to loss of jobs if not properly handled.
After announcing the plan to implement the report, the President had set up an eight-member committee with a 12-week deadline to ensure necessary legislative amendments and administrative restructuring needed for effective implementation.
READ ALSO: Ndume’s Removal As Chief Whip: Senate Has Become Tinubu’s Puppet – Atiku
However, five months after, the implementation process seems to have been stalled.
In a statement via his verified X handle, Atiku said that instead of implementing the report and taking other measures to cut the cost of governance, the country has witnessed in recent times, “the ballooning of MDAs”.
The former vice president observed that there is much wastage on things that are not essential and called for channeling of public funds to projects that have direct positive impact on development.
“Whatever happened to the much-trumpeted implementation of the Oronsaye Report? Recently, the ballooning of MDAs with the attendant cost implications has been observed,” Atiku stated.
“There’s too much wastage and prioritisation of non-essential expenditures. What is desirable is an across the board cut in expenses. We can no longer afford to borrow money to fund continued irresponsibility in government.”
There have been criticisms of the directive given by President Tinubu to implement the report as he is said to hold the record of having the largest number of ministers in Nigerian history.
Also, the approval for the creation of Livestock Ministry by President Tinubu has been criticised by many who said there was no need for that. According to them, Livestock could be effectively managed under the existing Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Atiku, who also commended the decision of the House of Representatives to cut members’ salaries by 50 per cent for six months, said “it is a drop in the ocean.” The members of the green chamber had on Thursday decided to cut their salaries by 50 per cent for six months to support President Bola Tinubu’s government in providing succour to Nigerians suffering economic hardships due to reforms of the current administration.
“The demons are in the allowances and not the salaries of lawmakers and government officials in general,” Atiku stated.
Presidential fleet purchase
Atiku also criticised the decision of the Federal Government to acquire new presidential fleet despite wide opposition to it considering the current economic hardship in the country. “Despite persistent solicitations that government put its priorities on canceling the excruciating hardship in the land and suspend the idea of spending scarce resources on the purchase of new aircraft for the presidential fleet, the Senate took a stand against the people and ignored the voices of altruism by decorating the President with controversial purchases of an aircraft and a yacht amidst the worst material conditions of the average citizen in the history of our country.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
Follow Us