By Tolúlopé Olátúnjí
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the implementation of the Stephen Oronsaye’s led committee report, aimed at streamlining its operations and reducing the cost of governance.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Sunday’ described the Oronsaye report as “work in progress”, stressing that efforts are ongoing towards achieving its full-fledged implementation.
Idris stated: “There is progress on it. You recall it was handed to a special committee to review. That committee is still working on it. Once it is ready, it will be presented to the government.”
It would be recalled that the comprehensive 800-page Oronsaye ‘s Led Committee report recommended among other things, reduction in the number of statutory and non-statutory Federal Government parastatals, agencies, and commissions from 541 to 161. This involves abolishing 38 agencies, merging 52, and converting 14 into departments within ministries.
In a similar development, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, emphasized that the committee is working within the 12-week deadline set by the President to come up with appropriate streamlining metrics.
Onanuga explained: “It is still in progress. I believe you are aware that Akume’s committee was directed by the President to look into the report. They have not reported back to the FEC. The Federal Government has not put it on hold. It is something that is still on the table. Let us just wait for the Akume panel to finish working on the report.”
Recall that in February 2024, the Federal Government revisited the report, and in March, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu established a committee led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to review the report and the White Paper and come up with implementation templates within 12 weeks.
