Oronsaye report: FG inaugurates implementation committee

The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated a committee on the implementation of the recommendations on the review of reports and White Papers on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, and Commissions.

The FG had on February 28, 2024, approved the implementation of some of the recommendations to the Stephen Oronsaye Report to reduce the cost of governance.

Approval for the inauguration of a committee that would see to the implementation of the report was granted.

The committee was given 12 weeks to submit its report.

The approval for the implementation of the Oronsaye report is coming 12 years after the panel submitted its report.

The 800-page report recommended that 263 of the statutory agencies be slashed to 161; 38 agencies be scrapped; 52 be merged and 14 be reverted to departments in various ministries among others.

A statement by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary General of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, said the SGF George Akume, while inaugurating members of the committee stated that
the implementation of the report was to reduce the cost of governance and streamline efficiency across the governance value chain.

The statement read, “The Federal Government has inaugurated the Committee on the implementation of the recommendations on the review of reports and White Papers on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions.

“The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, while inaugurating the Committee on behalf of President Bola Tinubu stressed that the implementation of the White Papers on the report which would involve the merger, relocation, subsuming or scrapping of some Parastatals, Agencies, and Commissions is aimed at reducing the cost of governance and streamlining efficiency across the governance value chain.”

Akume outlined the general guidelines of the Committee to include reviewing current mandates to understand the existing functions, responsibilities, and objectives outlined in the mandates of the Agencies.

“Identify redundancies and overlaps or conflicting objectives among the mandates of different organisational units.

“Define strategic objectives to ensure the revised mandates align with the strategic objectives and priorities of the government.

“Engage key stakeholders and gather input and feedback on the proposed revisions to the mandates.

“Draft clear, concise, and actionable revised mandates for the organisations involved in the restructuring. Ensure the revised mandates comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies governing government operations”, he said.

The other guidelines according to the SGF also include obtaining necessary approvals from relevant authorities for the revised mandates, effectively communicating the revised mandates to employees and stakeholders implementing the revised mandates effectively, and monitoring their implementation to identify any issues or challenges.

According to the statement, members of the committee are Akume; Attorney General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Budget & Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu;
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, and Special Adviser to the President, Policy & Coordination, Usman Bala.

Others are Director-General Bureau of Public Service Reform, Dasuki Arabi; Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Abdullahi Gumel; Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (House of Representatives) Ibrahim Olarwewaju; Principal Secretary to the President, Hakeem Okunola and Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Richard Pheelangwah.