Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, informed State House Correspondents of the new government dirction after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, in Abuja, on Monday.
The Oronsaye report on public sector reforms, which was submitted in 2012, disclosed that there were 541—statutory and non-statutory, comprising Federal Government parastatals, commissions and agencies.
It recommended that the reduction of the statutory agencies from 263 to 161, while 38 agencies should be scrapped and 52 merger. Fourteen others were to revert to departments in various ministries.
Furthermore, the report added that the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission should take over the National Salaries and Wages Commission after the law establishing it is repealed.
It also urged the Federal Government to merge the nation’s top three anti-corruption agencies—the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
However, Idris explained that the measure was taken to reduce the cost of governance and free up monies for reinvestment into key projects but assured that it would not result in job losses and redundancies.
He said: “In a very bold move today, this administration, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu…has taken a decision to implement the so-called Oronsaye report. Now, what that means is that a number of agencies, commissions and some departments have been scrapped.
“Some have been merged, while others have been subsumed. Others, of course, have also been moved from some ministries to others where government feels they will operate better.
“The Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate has been scrapped. The National Senior Secondary School Education Commission is also being looked at with the aim to modify some of its processes and a final decision on that will be taken.
“It is important to note that the fact that the Oronsanye report has been approved and adopted by council today does not mean that people will lose their jobs.
“All those who are employed, whether they have been moved, subsumed or scrapped will find accommodation with that with within relevant government agencies. Nobody is going to lose his job as a result of that.”
