Reps panel: Why n’assembly is creating new agencies amid plans to implement Oronsaye report

The house of representatives special ad hoc committee on restructuring of government agencies has explained why the national assembly is passing establishment bills despite moves to implement the Oronsaye report.

In March, President Bola Tinubu directed the full implementation of the Oronsaye report.⁣

In 2011, then President Goodluck Jonathan constituted the Stephen Oronsaye-led panel to identify inadequacies in the country’s civil service.

In 2012, the committee submitted an 800-page report and recommended the scrapping and merging of 102 government agencies and parastatals.

The recommendations of the report have not been implemented since 2012. 

Tinubu has constituted an eight-member committee to propose legislative amendments to the report. 

The senate and house of representatives have been considering bills to establish new agencies and commissions.

‘WE CAN’T STOP OUR LAWMAKING DUTY’

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Ibrahim Isiaka, chairman of the special ad hoc committee, said the national assembly cannot stop its legislative functions because of plans to implement the report.

“As we are talking about scrapping and merging agencies, the national assembly is still making many establishment bills and passing them into an Act of the parliament. The work of the legislature is an ongoing process,” he said.

“Some agencies were created for certain exigencies of time in the past. Perhaps some of them have outlived their functions. And it is the duty of the national assembly to review all agencies.

“If it is to strengthen them or look for more functions for them, so be it.

“We cannot stop the engine of the country from moving because we are reviewing activities of the past. The world is not even waiting for anyone. As the world evolves, we are moving along that same line.

“So, because of that, you are not going to say we should stop the function of the national assembly from establishing any new commission or agencies so far it is in tandem with the position of the government of the day.

“There is no bill of the national assembly that does not pass through the scrutiny of the public hearing.”

Isiaka said through the review process, the lawmakers will identify redundancies, duplications, inefficiencies, and areas of improvement within the federal government. 

“Our goal is to apply the legislative approach in streamlining operations, eliminate duplication of functions, enhance service delivery, and optimise resource allocation,” he said. 

“This review will be comprehensive and thorough, taking into cognisance the diverse perspectives and expertise available to us.” 

Isiaka, who was flanked by some members of the committee, asked stakeholders to transmit their memoranda to the panel for consideration, adding that the panel will hold a public hearing on July 10.