An Insight Into The Stephen Oronsaye Report
The Stephen Oronsaye Report is a product of the Presidential Committee duly constituted by erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan. It is an 800-page report which recommends Statutory Agencies of Government be reduced from 263 to 161. The committee was saddled with the responsibility of restructuring and rationalization of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies.
The terms of reference of the Presidential Committee were as follows:
- Study and review all previous reports and records on restructuring of Federal Parastatals and advice on whether they were still relevant.
- Examine the enabling Acts of Federal Agencies, Parastatals and commissions and classify them into various sectors.
- Examine critically, the mandate of the existing Federal Agencies, Parastatals and make appropriate recommendations to either restructure, merge or scrap some to eliminate such overlaps, duplications or redundancies; and
- Advise on any other matter incidental to the foregoing which might be relevant to the desire of Government to prune down the cost of governance.
A brief list of Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies in which the search light of the Committee was beamed include; Constitutional Bodies, Office of The Vice-President, Office of The Secretary to The Government of The Federation, Office of The Head of Service, Federal Ministry of Agriculture And Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, Ministry of Defence, Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of The Federal Capital Territory, Federal Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Information, Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Labour And Productivity, Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing And Urban Development, Ministry of Mines And Steel Development, Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Power, Federal Ministry of Science And Technology, Ministry of Tourism, Culture And National Orientation, Federal Ministry of Trade And Investment, Federal Ministry of Transport, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Federal Ministry of Works and The Federal Ministry of Youth Development, National Sports Commission.
The principal purpose of restructuring and rationalization of Agencies, Parastatals and Commission emanated from the desire to meet global socioeconomic challenges, thus necessitating the need to cut the cost of governance while maintaining accountability as a matter of principle. On the other hand, the cardinal principles were majorly aversion to economic challenges, the need to put into judicious use scarce resources in the pursuit of developmental objectives and goals, and the pressing call for a reformation in repositioning for a better sociopolitical and economic society.
The Presidential Committee submitted the rationalization of Agencies, Parastatals and Commissions would better equip Federal Ministries in its supervision mandate. The reform would explore human dimensions and cost implications, MDA’s are to be overhauled to do more for less. Some of the key submissions of the Committee will be considered with a view to considering the neediness and practicality of purpose.
A proposition was made on the abolition of the Federal Character Commission. This does not seem to come at the ripe time, as Nigeria evidently grapples with the need to maintain Unity with agitation for a secession from the East and the need for a common identity from the populace, the above indices doesn’t make it seem like a right move in the right direction particularly at this fragile time in our polity. I wholly align myself with the thoughts of the Federal Government that the Commission should rather be strengthened to cater for an all-inclusive government, resplendent of Unity and maintaining an incontrovertible appearance of fairness in the dispensation of its duty.
Regarding the recommendations made by the Committee with respect to the Federal Civil Service Commissions (FCSC), the writer wholly aligns with the position of the Committee. The Constitution should be amended to reflect a change in name and status of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) to the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC). The name reeks of vestiges of military era which should have been jettisoned for a more democratic outlook.
The recommendation made on Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission is commendable. It is worthy of praise it was accepted by the Federal Government and the process for actualization was set in motion. It is the right step in the right direction in achieving the objectives of the White Paper.
The Federal Government seems to be right in entirety to reject recommendations made on the Code of Conduct Tribunal, to be renamed Anti-Corruption Tribunal. It is posited efficiency is not in name rather lies in the ability of an institution to religiously carry out its dictates. Likewise, upgrading the status to that of a Superior Court of record is tantamount to slighting the dictates of the Constitution which clearly provides for inferior and superior Courts of records. This will also amount to undertaking tedious amendment procedure and creation of more exalted position which will result in expending more sum belonging to tax payers and it is contrary to the spirit establishing the committee. However, I am totally in line with the view that the EFCC, ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau be consolidated into one anti-corruption agency.
With regards to recommendations submitted under the National Pensions Commission (PENCOM) prescribing retirees be stopped from opting out of Contributory Pension Scheme. It is submitted retirees be at liberty to partake or not, particularly when one considers the evil being perpetrated in some States of the Federation. It is uncertain why leverage is given to military personnel who are at liberty to either engage or not.
It is repugnant to the purpose of the Committee that submissions made on National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) was rejected in entirety by the Federal Government. Acceptance of recommendations made would have saved the Country tons of Naira which could have been divested to more pressing need affecting all and sundry.
Considering propositions on abolition of the Public Complaint Commissions and its budgetary allocation to be suspended from 2013 Fiscal Year, The Federal Government is right in its entirety to have rejected this submission. In fact, the commission should be better strengthened for swift and efficient workings of complaints. It is worthy of note the Utilities Charges Commission was proposed to be abolished, more worthy of commendation it was accepted by the Federal Government. The Commission appears to have outlived its useful life.
On Abuja Commodities and Securities Exchange (ACSE), the Committee recommends as follows:
- The Abuja Commodities and Securities Exchange be privatized and
- It ceases to receive Federal Government funding with effect from 2013 Fiscal Year.
The Federal Government accepts this recommendation, directing that funding should cease with effect from the end of privatization. Secondly, Government accepts this recommendation with effect from the end of privatization.
Although, much reference was not made to the National Youth Service Scheme, even where it was, the submission of the Committee is not fully in tandem with that of the writer. The writer posits the National Youth Service Scheme be scrapped; monies given in trenches to Corps members be paid in whole sum after undergoing a short but comprehensive skill acquisition programme to fund a business of choice.
The Committee proposed the removal of all Professional bodies from the National budget in order to reduce high cost of governance. Although, Government notes it will continue to provide grants to regulatory bodies but will no longer fund Professional Associations. Accordingly, all Professional Associations are encouraged to properly register with CAC.
In concise terms, the Oronsaye’s Report established as follows;
- That there are 541 Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies
- 263 of the Statutory Agencies should be reduced to 161; 38 Agencies should be abolished
- 52 Agencies should be merged and
- 14 should revert back to departments in Ministries.
The average cost of Governance in Nigeria ranks among the highest in the World. As commendable as the Report seems, about 90% of recommendations made by the Committee was rejected by the Federal Government. A thinking being would wonder the rational for embarking on such a costly exercise when a huge chunk of its recommendations would eventually be rejected.
According to Professor Ladipo Adamolekun, in his rigorous survey of 29 African Countries, Nigeria is categorized among ‘The hesitant reformers’. His position is not far-fetched with reference to past Reforms and success of implementation, it is commendable President Buhari deemed the Report fit for revisit and possible implementation. The possible roadblocks to be encountered in the process of implementation will likely stem from: Career Civil Servant, The National Assembly and the Politicians for obvious reasons.
The Report, even if fully implemented would only solve a hand full of problem(s). It is pathetic little to no reference was made of the Political Class, it arrays of aids and the staggering sum spent yearly to maintain this Class of persons. A report of this magnitude and implication should be thorough and comprehensive, seen to have a far-reaching effect on every operational facet. At a time when the Nigerian economy is gradually moving towards comatose, one would safely posit the implementation of Oronsaye’s Report be done in piecemeal or out rightly put on hold because of a further damaging effect it may have on the Citizens. The Federal Government should rather make a concerted effort towards investing in infrastructure and a speedy diversification of the Nigerian economy.
Oluwole Kolawole legal practitioner with 6 years experience in law, entrepreneurship, leadership and in the development sector. He has worked as legal associate crafting his interest in Labour Law, Election Petition, Administrative Law, Private International Law, Law of Commercial Transactions and the Law of Contract. Kolawole creatively deploys knowledge from diverse sources into problem solving, idealization and organizational achievements. He believes Legal Practitioners are Masons in shaping the affairs of men, pruning every brick for fitness of purpose.
