Joe Abah, a former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), has provided ten comprehensive guidelines for the practical application of the Oronsaye report. The report, published in 2012 during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, detailed the overhaul of the Federal Government’s ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). However, many agencies had not yet been established at the time of the report’s publication, making it difficult to evaluate its effectiveness directly.
Recently, a committee submitted a white paper on the report to President Buhari in 2022. On February 26, the Bola Tinubu administration announced it would implement “aspects” of the report to reduce the cost of governance. In a report published by Agora Policy, Joe Abah offered ten recommendations to the government on how it can seamlessly and practically apply the policy of the report, thus reducing the cost of government.
1. Mergers require time: The government should realise that mergers are complex endeavours that require time, expertise, planning and resources.
2. Mergers Cost Money: Mergers cost money, and a budget is needed for the exercise.
3. Sub-committee for Agencies: In addition to the 10-member committee announced by the government, it would be important to set up merger committees for each agency that is to be merged.
4. Public Awareness: The public needs to be sensitised to what is realistically achievable in the 12 weeks that the 10-member committee has been given.
5. Six months Minimum: It would be prudent to allow a minimum of six months for proper completion.
6. Audit of Assets: All the agencies affected should immediately conduct independent audits of their assets and staff.
7. Review of Agencies: Mandates, management arrangements, and organizational structures should be reviewed to ensure that emerging new organisations are appropriately sized and fit for purpose.
8. Audit of Staff: There is a need to rationalise staffing. This should be done sequentially, starting with redeploying people to other parts of the public service where their skills may be needed. However, it would be better to be upfront with the public and the trade unions that some people would have to go. Efforts should be made to offer enhanced packages for people to go, first on a voluntary basis.
9. Need for Consistency of Principles: The process for subsuming agencies under other agencies, relocating them to new ministries, or abolishing them should use the same principles, including audits of assets, staff audits, and rationalisation of staff.
10. Record Keeping: The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation should improve its record keeping, particularly for important reports like the Joda, Ayida, and Oronsaye reports, and ensure that they are posted online for ease of access.
What you should know
There has long been a sustained campaign to cut the cost of governance as a mechanism for economic development and nation-building:
•However, many fear that this approach might result in the loss of jobs, the reduction of bureaucratic involvement in the welfare of the people, and laxity in the regulatory framework of industries and sectors.
•While opinions differ on methods of reducing government waste, bureaucratic malfeasance, and duplication of responsibilities in the civil service, the Oronsaye report offers a comprehensive, scientific, and research-based approach to ensuring the total restructuring of Nigeria’s public service.
•Published in 2012 by a committee set up by former president Jonathan, its recommendations provide ways through which the government can encourage efficiency in public service, reduce bureaucratic overreach and curb corruption.
•Taking the bull by the horns, the President Tinubu-led administration said it would implement some aspects of the report.
•The administration said 30 agencies will be merged, nine will be subsumed under existing agencies, and four will be relocated from their current ministries.