President Bola Tinubu has given strict instructions for the Oronsaye report to be carried out in its entirety. As a result, there will be significant changes in the structure of various government agencies, including mergers, consolidations, eliminations, and relocations. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this announcement to reporters from the State House following the latest Federal Executive Council gathering at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. In a daring and decisive move today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has made the bold decision to implement the Oronsaye Report, resulting in the elimination of various agencies, commissions, and departments.
This is yet another example of President Tinubu’s willingness to make tough decisions for the betterment of Nigeria. Idris mentioned that there have been adjustments made to certain departments, with some being combined and reorganized for better efficiency. Additionally, there has been transfers of responsibilities to different ministries in order to improve their effectiveness. As a result, the President has established a committee to carry out these changes within a timeframe of 12 weeks, according to Hadiza Bala-Usman, the Special Adviser on Policy Coordination for Tinubu.
Reduction in the number of statutory agencies from 263 to 161.
In 2012, the Oronsaye report highlighted the existence of 541 Federal Government parastatals, commissions, and agencies, both statutory and non-statutory. Goodluck Jonathan, the President at the time, had established the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions, and Agencies in the previous year. This committee was headed by Stephen Oronsaye, the former Head of Civil Service. The extensive report suggested a reduction in the number of statutory agencies from 263 to 161, with 38 agencies to be eliminated altogether.
Additionally, 52 agencies are proposed to be consolidated and 14 to be absorbed back into different ministries as departments. Furthermore, the report advises the repeal of the law that created the National Salaries and Wages Commission, with its responsibilities to be transferred to the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Responsibility Commission. The suggestion was made for the government to consolidate the country’s leading anti-corruption institutions, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, and the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Government has the potential to save more than ₦241bn.
According to a previous investigation, the Nigerian government has the potential to save more than ₦241bn if this recommendation is properly put into action. In June 2009, Stephen Osagiede Oronsaye took on the role of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in Nigeria. He wasted no time implementing a series of reforms to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Stephen Oronsaye reached the mandatory Retirement age of 60 on November 16, 2010.
Afterwards, he retired from his position. Oladapo Afolabi was appointed as his successor. In December 1995, he began his tenure at the Federal Ministry of Finance as the Director of Special Duties. One of Oronsaye’s key roles was overseeing the consolidation of Administrative and Accounting operations at the State House. Additionally, he led efforts to modernize systems and procedures at the State House, including the digitalization of Personnel records, Accounts, and Access controls for various offices within the ministry.
He led the committee of Civil Service Rules and Financial Regulations.
Having been chosen as Principal Secretary to President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, he held a role that was similar to that of a Federal Permanent Secretary. Despite not being a civil servant, he was later confirmed as Permanent Secretary of the State House, which was an unconventional decision. In 2006, Oronsaye led the committee responsible for updating the Civil Service Rules and Financial Regulations. His career continued to advance when he was named Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance on August 20, 2008.