Buhari Unaware of Oronsaye’s Report, Says Former Minister

Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has disclosed that ex-President Muhammadu Buhari never saw Steven Oronsaye’s report during his tenure from 2015 to 2019.

Shittu clarified that the report, aimed at reducing the cost of governance, wasn’t brought to the attention of the Buhari administration, thereby eliminating the need for its implementation. He stated, “The issue never came up for discussion at the Federal Executive Council meeting at all.”

Controversy surrounds the report as the Federal Government approved its implementation on February 26, 12 years after submission. This decision involves merging 29 government agencies and subsuming eight parastatals into others, sparking concerns about potential job losses.

National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Tommy Etim, cautioned against job losses amid current hardships, warning of potential mass protests. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, criticized the report as outdated, urging caution to prevent exacerbating the insecurity crisis through mass retrenchment.

The Federal Government has inaugurated an implementation committee, while Shittu assured that civil servants need not fear job losses. He emphasized that only politicians would be affected, aiming to eliminate duplication of services and reduce the cost of governance.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yusuf Ali, supported the report’s implementation, highlighting its potential to streamline the administration of ministries, departments, and agencies. Ali argued that a leaner government could effectively manage bureaucracy and resolve issues of inter-agency rivalry.