Former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has disclosed that the Oronsaye Report was not presented to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure.
Shittu, who served during Buhari's first term, explained that the report didn't come to the attention of the administration, resulting in no discussions or considerations for implementation.
Controversy arose when the Federal Government approved some of the report's recommendations after 12 years.
The decision involves merging 29 government agencies and subsuming eight parastatals into other agencies, raising concerns about potential job losses.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria warned of mass protests due to job losses amid the country's hardships, while Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, deemed the report outdated.
Despite these concerns, Shittu assured that civil servants need not fear job losses, emphasizing the importance of avoiding duplication of services for the greater national interest. He highlighted that the reduction in the number of appointees would primarily impact politicians rather than civil servants.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yusuf Ali, supported the implementation of the Oronsaye Report, citing the potential to streamline government administration by reducing inter-agency rivalry and eliminating overlapping functions.
Ali emphasized that the goal is to achieve a leaner government capable of managing bureaucracy more efficiently, likening the merging of agencies to adopting technological advancements for progress.
