After 11 years, the Federal Government on Friday, inaugurated a White Paper committee to review Parastatals, Agencies and Commission created since 2014.
The White Paper Committee is to be chaired by the former Head of Service, Ebele Okeke.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, while inaugurating the Committee at a short ceremony in Abuja stated that the committee has six weeks to submit report.
“I look forward to working with you on delivering this assignment. I noticed that we did not put a time limit, but I would ask that probably we have this report turned in as quickly as possible within a period of six weeks.” He said
According to him, the six weeks duration was to able the beginning of the process of implementation after approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The SGF stressed that the Federal Government has been worried by the increasing costs of governance, adding that the revenue challenges facing the country, brought about number of efforts meant to address the challenges.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, you will all agree with me that the inability to implement the report of the Committee on restructuring and rationalization of federal government, parastatals, agencies and commissions is costing the government highly.
“This cost grow higher, and the situation is further worsened by the fact that new agencies are being created on a daily basis.” He explained.
He to confront the challenges, two committees were integrated by the Federal government in 2021.
“One of the committees was to review the Steve Oronsaye’s report and it’s white paper chaired by Mr. Gonji Bukar Aji, a retired head of civil service of the Federation, the second committee was constituted to review new agencies created from 2014 to date which was chaired by Ms Ama Pepple, another former head of civil service of the Federation.
“One of such efforts, was the constitution of the Committee on the restructuring and rationalization of federal government parastatals, commissions and agencies on the 18th of August 2011. Chaired by the former head of service, Mr. Steve Oransaye.
“The committee submitted its report on the 16th of April 2012, with various recommendations, such as a abolition, reduction, merger and reversion of some of the agencies to departments in ministries.
“Subsequently, the white paper on the report was issued in March of 2014, followed by an implementation committee that was inaugurated in May of 2014.
“However, the white paper rejecting most of the recommendations, merely noted, an equally greater number. Again, even those accepted, were not implemented.
“After the submission of the Ama Pepple chaired committee report, there is need to constitute a white paper for committee to consider its recommendation by government, hence the inauguration today of this committee.” He stated.
Mustapha speaking further said, he is ready to work with the Committee on delivering the assignment faster adding that that was why he gave them six weeks.
“If you can do that we would appreciate it. So that will begin the processes of the implementation of this report. If not, as you are sitting and preparing a white paper, you will hear that one other committee or another agency has sprung up.
“So, as quickly as possible, if you can turn in your report, that will begin the processes of really having the Federal Executive Council consider that along with a review that was undertaken by the Goni Bukar Aji on the Oransaye report and its white paper.” he pleaded.
Former Head of Service, Okeke, while making her remark, thanked the Federal Government for always inviting permanent secretaries and former Heads of service to give back to the nation that trained them and gave them so much.
Okeke regretted that the Oransaye’s report is coming up again exactly 11 years today, without being implemented.
“And since then, more and more Agencies, Commissions, Parastatals are being set up, and this is actually defeating the purpose for which government set up the Oransaye report.
“And that is why government now wants us to take a good look, and make sure that we review the report on the new parastatal and agencies and come up with a good white paper for government so that it can be implemented.
“Because the report is about 11 years and a child born in 2011 is in secondary school.
“I’m sure, you I’m speaking on behalf of all the members of the committee, that we are ready to work. Like the SGF said, retired Permanent Secretariats and former Heads of service, when he invites, come. Sir, most of us are still very interested in being active.
“It’s good for us to be very busy and give back to government. Government has invested a lot in the permanent secretaries. Despite what they say about civil servants, the best crop of people are from the service. And you have to give back to the service and also the society and government what they gave to us.
“So we thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to serve. And we promise you that we are going to do a very good job by the grace of God and we will definitely submit before the six weeks.” She said.
The members of the committee are, Ibukun Odusote (retd perm sec), Mustapha Suliaman, (retd perm sec), Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary Foreign Minister of Agriculture Rural Development, Mahmuda Mamman, Permanent Secretary, Federal Minister of Health, Hassan Musa, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Information and Cultur and Mr. Dasuki Arabi, DG Bureau for Public Service Reform and the secretary of the committee.
In November 2021, the government inaugurated two sub-committees on the implementation of the whitepaper on the restructuring of ministries, departments and agencies to reduce the cost of governance.
The chairmen of the sub-committees were former Heads of service of the federation, Bukar Aji, Amal Pepple and Oladapo Afolabi. The second committee was to
review new parastatals, agencies and commissions created after the submission of the report on restructuring but since then the reports were not implemented.
