Following anxiety over the implementation of Steve Oronsaye’s report, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the federal government won’t retrench workers.
He said the mergers of some parastatals was meant to ensure efficiency in the civil service and save cost.
Idris, who spoke at the ministerial press briefing series in Abuja, said some of the merged or scrapped agencies have redundant or have outlived their usefulness.
He said: “The consideration of Steve Oronsaye’s report is to improve efficiency in the Civil service. This does not mean that the government intends to retrench workers.”
He highlighted the rationale behind the rejig of some of the departments and agencies.
He said: “Only two days ago, the President approved a revolutionary approach towards reducing the cost of governance through the implementation of the much-talked-about Oronsaye Report – 12 years after the report was submitted to the then President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
“This is a clear demonstration of Mr. President’s unwavering commitment to fiscal prudence and responsible governance by championing a comprehensive review of the government‘s commissions, agencies, and parastatals.
“In recognition of the need to rationalise the size and scope of government, the President has taken decisive action to merge certain agencies and scrap others that are redundant or have outlived their usefulness.”
Idris insisted that the government did its homework before coming up with its decisions on Oronsaye’s report.
He added: “The merger of some agencies and parastatals and the scrapping of others are not decisions taken lightly.
“It followed careful consideration and strategic planning to ensure that essential services are not compromised and that the needs of our citizens are adequately addressed while putting the interests of the nation first and foremost.
“Through the implementation of Oronsaye’s Report, President Tinubu aims to achieve significant cost savings by eliminating duplication of functions, streamlining administrative processes, and optimizing resource allocation.
“This proactive approach will enable the government to operate more efficiently while maintaining the quality and delivery of services to the Nigerian people.
“It is worth noting that these measures are not undertaken in isolation but are part of a broader strategy to reform and modernize government institutions by leveraging technology, promoting innovation, and fostering a culture of performance and accountability across all sectors.”
