Oronsaye Report: There won’t be job loss – Reps

The House of Representatives has promised that there will be no job loss due to the proposed merger of government agencies as recommended by the Stephen Oronsaye report on restructuring of government agencies.

Chairman of the committee set up to review the recommendations, Ibrahim Isiaka, at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said the aim is to save cost of governance and not for workers to lose their jobs. He added that the committee will soon begin engaging with concerned government agencies.

According to Isiaka, there are several agencies performing almost the same role, and so such agencies may be merged.

He said: “We are here to address the pressing need to review the Oronsaye Report and other White Papers on the restructuring of government agencies, parastatals, and commissions.

“The Oronsaye Report, published in 2012, highlighted various recommendations aimed at rationalising and optimising the operations of government agencies to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It is imperative for us to revisit the recommendations and other pertinent White Papers to ensure we align our government structures with current realities, best practices, and the changing needs of our society.

“The world is evolving rapidly, and it is crucial that our government agencies and commissions are structured in a way that enables them to deliver on their mandates effectively and efficiently.

“Through this review process, we aim to identify redundancies, duplications, inefficiencies, and areas of improvement within the government agencies and commissions. Our goal is to apply the legislative approach in streamlining operations, eliminate duplication of functions, enhance service delivery, and optimise resource allocation.

“This review will be comprehensive and thorough, taking into cognizance the diverse perspectives and expertise available to us. We acknowledge the importance of stakeholder engagement in this process, and we will be seeking input from various stakeholders, including government officials, experts, civil society organisations, and the public. Transparency, accountability, and inclusivity will be the guiding principles of our review process.

“The Special ad hoc committee on the restructuring of federal government agencies and commissions is committed to fostering a more efficient, effective, and responsive government that meets the needs of the people.”