The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has clarified the reasons behind the federal government’s delay in implementing the Stephen Oronsaye report.
During a recent interaction with journalists following a visit to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) headquarters in Abuja, Gbajabiamila emphasized that the government is meticulously working out the necessary modalities to ensure a smooth implementation of the policy.
Gbajabiamila dismissed suggestions that the report has been ignored or shelved, assuring that the government is actively engaged in the process. However, he acknowledged that there is currently no specific timeline for the implementation of the Oronsaye report.
Background and Approval
In February 2024, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Bola Tinubu, approved the full implementation of the Oronsaye report. This approval included plans to merge, abolish, or relocate various parastatals, agencies, and commissions to streamline governance and reduce costs. An eight-man committee was established to make recommendations on these mergers, scrapings, and relocations within a 12-week period. Despite this, six months have passed without the report being implemented.
The Oronsaye Report
The Oronsaye report, submitted in April 2012, was the outcome of the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalization of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions, and Agencies, chaired by former Head of Civil Service Stephen Oronsaye. The 800-page report identified significant overlaps among government agencies, leading to wasteful expenditure. Key recommendations included reducing the number of statutory agencies from 263 to 161, abolishing 38 agencies, and merging 14 agencies into departments within ministries.
Reasons for Delay
Analysts point to several factors contributing to the delay in implementing the report. A major concern is the potential for job losses resulting from the merger or elimination of certain government agencies. This could have significant political and social implications, making the government cautious in its approach. Additionally, the sluggish pace of government processes and the need to avoid weakening existing government policies are also cited as reasons for the delay.
Gbajabiamila reiterated that while the implementation is forthcoming, it cannot be rushed due to the complexities involved. “Everyone is anticipating the implementation of the report. I cannot disclose the timeline, but we cannot rush it due to anxiety. It will be out shortly,” he stated
