The House of Representatives Special Ad Hoc Committee on Restructuring Government Agencies and Commissions has started reviewing the recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye Report.
Submitted to the Federal Government in 2012, the report aims to reduce the cost of governance by merging, scrapping, and relocating certain departments and agencies. It identified 541 statutory and non-statutory federal government parastatals, commissions, and agencies.
On February 26, 2024, during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, the implementation of the report was approved to cut governance costs, according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
The recommendations include merging 29 government agencies, subsuming eight parastatals into other agencies, relocating four agencies to various ministries, and scrapping one agency.
The FEC mandated a committee, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to review the report and submit recommendations.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, the committee chairman, Isiaka Ayokunle, emphasized the necessity of reviewing the report.
“We must revisit the recommendations of the Oronsaye Report and other pertinent white papers to ensure that we are aligning our government structures with current realities, best practices, and the changing needs of our society,” Ayokunle said.
He added, “The world is evolving rapidly, and our government agencies and commissions must be structured in a way that enables them to deliver on their mandates effectively and efficiently.”
Ayokunle, who represents the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency of Ogun State, noted that the review aims to identify redundancies, duplications, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement within federal government agencies and commissions.
“Our goal is to apply the legislative approach in streamlining operations, eliminate duplication of functions, enhance service delivery, and optimize resource allocation. This review will be comprehensive and thorough, taking into cognizance the diverse perspectives and expertise available to us,” he said.
Ayokunle also highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement in the process, seeking input from government officials, experts, civil society organizations, and the general public.
The committee plans to hold a one-day public hearing on the matter on July 10 in Abuja.
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